sabbath so far...

Sabbath so far …


The Sabbath is a gift from God to man and never intended to be a burden.


People have a tendency to overwork and often go too fast through life. This “busyness” often results in spiritual emptiness. The Sabbath is a way to re fuel and re align what really matters.


Colossians 2:16-17 does not seem to “do away” with the Sabbath, but redefine it in terms of how it relates to Christ.



People stumble over the word “Sabbath” and there are many misconceptions about our relation to it.

5. We need to exhort our congregation to examine the scriptures and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit when it comes to Sabbath observance. ( We cannot publish a list of rules or restrictions concerning this day because that would put us in league with the Pharisees … who were condemned by Jesus for their erroneous attitude about the day.)

stuff my kids said

I am trying to remember the things my kids said over the years:

2002 Josh at 4 years old ... I asked Josh what he wanted to be when he grew up and he misunderstood the question to mean: "why do you want to grow up? " and so he said: "so I can reach the chips..."

2006 Matthew ( age 6) made some comment that was actually funny, but he did not appreciate us laughing about it. When I tried to console him later about it he said: " I know funny and that's not funny."

2004 Josh 6 and Matthew 4 After hitting baseballs at Rose Park, we had a conversation with another dad and his teenage sons. The other father commented and reflected on how fast time was passing because he remembered the days when his kids were my kids' age. In the middle of this "Norman Rockwell" moment Josh goes: " I do NOT like baseball... my dad forces me to play... what I really like is computers."

2007 While watching the "special features" of some sci fi movie, they showed some vintage footage of King Kong movies from 1933 and some godzilla clips from the 1940's and 1950's. After seeing the crudeness of the filmmaking back then Josh said: "man, I'm glad I live in this century..." ( age 9)

Redemptive work is costly

( This is a quote by James S Stewart taken from a sermon by Alistair Begg)

Redemptive work is always costly. There is no hope of ease for the faithful servant of the cross. It is involved in the very nature of his task that he can never be at the end of it. Not his to evade the burden and the heat of the day. Physical weariness, sickness of heart, bitter disappointment, the strain of the passion of souls, all the wear and tear of vicarious burden bearing; these he will know in full measure. He may even find himself wondering sometimes why he ever accepted a commission in a warfare in which there is no discharge. He may even have moods when a haunting sense of anticlimax overwhelms him. It’s one thing to set out gallantly when the flags are waving and drums summoning to a new crusade. But it’s quite another thing to keep plodding on when the road is difficult and the initial impetus has spent its force and the trumpets of the dawn have ceased to blow. It’s one thing to have inspirations – another to have tenacity…
If ever a man finds the work of the ministry becoming easily manageable and surmountable ; an undemanding vocation without strain or any encumbering load of care, he is to be pitied, not congratulated. For he has so flagrantly lost touch with one whose ministry of reconciliation could be accomplished and fulfilled through Gethsemane and Calvary. Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins… unless something of the pastor’s lifeblood goes into his quest for souls and into the word he brings them from the Lord, the quest remains fruitless and the word devoid of delivering power.
James S. Stewart

Charlton Heston and the Nine commandments

This discussion on the sabbath really connects to a larger discussion on the place of the Old Testament in our lives. I like this :

"Our freedom from the law as a way of salvation does not mean that we are free from the law as a guide to conduct. The fourth commandment ( Remember the Sabbath) is as much a part of that coherent family code as is any of the other nine."

and else where :
" Rebellious people do not want to rest in God's work or celebrate His creation. Like our first parents, we each want to be our own god. We want to rest in our own works and celebrate our own accomplishments."


Book: Pathway to Freedom Author: Alistair Begg

Sabbath or not ?

When I talk to people in the Christian world they say things like this:
All of the 10 commandments are repeated in the New Testament except the one about the sabbath. Does this have implications ?
What is the New Testament believer's attitude toward the sabbath day ?
I'm on a journey to get to the bottom of this issue.

Colossians 2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink or in respect to a festival or new moon or a Sabbath day --- 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

So, does this verse "nullify" the sabbath ? I understand it makes a reference to it as a shadow, but nullify ?
This is a burden for me because I have heard so many stories of people who "burned out" because they overworked. Is the sabbath a gift from God ?

Everyone says: "take a day off..." What does the sabbath have to do with that ?

King Tut

I used to be fascinated by King Tut's tomb. I can remember as a kid reading about Howard Carter's discovery of this site in 1922. Archaeologists are driven by a passion to discover ancient ruins and artifacts and their efforts are placed in museums. I think about some of the discoveries of scripture and how much more interesting to me these are now than coffins from an Egyptian's grave. I have been on somewhat of a "dig" with the book of Romans this month.
I studied Romans 2 this week and read vss. 23-24
" You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God ? 24 For THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU, just as it is written... "

I have lived with the idea that my sin hurts other people but it changes when I think about my sin as offensive to God. Here is a thought I liked from John Piper:

" If we want to think Biblically - think the way the apostles thought and the way God thinks, we do not merely talk about everybody's being a sinner; we get more specific than that and ask, ' What is sin ?' What is at the heart of our corruption and our depravity as human beings ? What is wrong with us ? Why is there so much evil in the world and what is the essence of this ? '"

The essence of evil is dishonoring God. Our sin doesn't just hurt other people, it is offensive to God. I haven't broken a rule, I have hurt a person ( God). This thought changes the way I view my sin. When the temptation to sin comes, it makes me re-evaluate and ask myself some serious questions: what will be the outcome of this ? Who will be hurt ? What does God think about what I am doing ?

Joy

Sunday May 6 I was privileged to baptize both of my sons. Karen and I have prayed for years that our children would come to know the Lord. About 8 months ago, I started conducting interviews with our kids and we would address all kinds of topics and also have Bible study. I remember asking Josh if he wanted to commit his life to the Lord. He said: " I'm not sure." I was actually relieved to hear him say that because it confirmed to me that he was not trying to please me with his answer. I admired the fact that he was genuinely seeking the Lord and not trying to please man. After months of conversations, he approached me and told me he was ready to give his life to Christ.
Matthew was ready earlier than Josh to make a commitment. I tried to stall and wait in order to test him and find out if he really wanted to follow Christ. How much can 6 year old really understand ? Jesus was the one who commended a childlike faith. God knows their hearts and I am thrilled to say that I believe my kids when they tell me they love Jesus.
Is it real ?
Well, let's wait and see if the fruit develops from the roots of their faith. But for now, we are celebrating.