Time to Worship
Last week in Sunday Youth Group, we discussed why people come to church. Some are forced to come, some are allowed to come at will and others "look forward " to church (gasp!)! I know, amazing, but true! He.he.he....Hebrews 10:23-25
(23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (24) and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (25) not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
There was a time (and may still be in some areas) when most businesses were closed on Sundays. Up and to a few years ago, most malls and shopping plazas opened by 11 a.m. and closed by 6 p.m. on Sundays. Rarely now will you find retail & food chain businesses closed on Sundays. There are still a few exceptions. Chik-Fil-A, for one, is a Christian owned organization. They are closed on Sundays.
Growing up, they were called the "Blue Laws." Laws on the books from days gone by declaring business should not be conducted on Sunday. On Sundays, places of businesses were closed so everyone could attend their particular church or worship service (in the morning AND evening). When we would drive to Northeast Texas to visit family for our vacation, sometimes we'd find ourselves traveling through Texas on a Sunday (shocking, I know). Back then, mom liked to stop at a convenience store and get a loaf of bread, some bologna and cold drinks for us to eat on the road. However, if she wasn't vigilant and waited until we were in Texas, and it was a Sunday...we'd be suffering bologna sandwich withdrawals! Not one place would be open! Even certain gas stations were closed. Only the major truck stops remained opened with their greasy spoon diners (where my mom never allowed us to eat, much less use the restroom).
I was always intrigued by these closed places of businesses on Sundays. I had this euphoric thought that all these people were in church worshipping God! Then, I'd feel a little left out that I wasn't in church with them. To this day, I still feel a sense of loss when I am not in church worshipping God on Sundays. Do you ever feel that way? I hope so!
Where-ever you stand on the issue of which day is supposed to be set aside to rest and worship God, the fact remains we ARE supposed to set aside a day to rest and worship God. Many Messianic Jewish congregations believe Saturday is the Sabbath. Today, most western Christian churches have made Sunday the day of Sabbath for rest and worship.
I think we can all agree, God desires for us to take a day to rest from our work and worship Him. And, He wants us to do it together with other believers (Christians, you & me).I have to tell you, visiting family has never been my idea of a vacation. And yet, growing up, that is what our vacations were always about: visiting family in Texas. For me, it was kinda boring and dull. Unless my cousins, who were closer to my age, were there to hang out or play with, we'd usually just do a lot of sitting around, eating boat-loads of food, listening to stories of days gone by and taking naps. B.O.R.I.N.G. Us kids wanted to play and have fun. Sitting around was never fun for me, cause I had to sit and listen...never talk. Old people talk was always unexciting to me. However, sometimes my dad would get to talking and we'd all be transfixed. My dad had the gift of storytelling. Dad wasn't always in the mood to talk. But sometimes, when the stars would be perfectly aligned something would prompt my dad to start talking. His eyes would twinkle and he'd laugh a little at his memories and capture us all with whatever story he had to tell.
Sundays are like little vacations from work. And, for good or for worse, it is also like visiting your family for a vacation!
Some of you think church is B.O.R.I.N.G. And, you know, you may be right. The church we have today is not really how God designed for the gathering of His people resting and worshiping Him to be. We serve a living God who has done incredible things in our lives. He has redeemed us with the precious blood of His Son, Jesus!
On Sundays, we need to come to church with that twinkle in our eyes and laughing thankfulness in our hearts for the richness of what God has done in our lives. We need to come ready to hear the Good News of God's Word to us and to worship our Savior and Creator!
Maybe our churches appear dead and boring to us because we have forgotten the purpose of why we gather there. Maybe we don't feel the love we are to have for one another because we don't take it seriously that we are supposed to love one another. Maybe my church is a reflection of me, and your church is a reflection of you. And if so, that is wrong. Our churches are supposed to be a reflection of God's people in love with Him, worshipping Him and enjoying the fellowship of others who come expressing their love for God through their worship.
Our church isn't about us at all. It is supposed to be about God.
When was the last time you eagerly looked forward to resting and worshipping God on the Sabbath?
PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals |
| Posted: 27 Aug 2009 02:02 PM PDT "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:8-11) Of the Ten Commandments, this one about the Sabbath is the only one, more or less, not explicitly restated in some way for New Testament Christians. If it were, the church would not have moved its primary day of group worship to Sunday and none of us would do any work on Saturdays. Does that mean the commandment doesn't matter? Of course not. Each of God's Top Ten in Exodus 20 were important to Him and, therefore, important for Israel. God cares about the Sabbath. In fact, Jesus said that the Sabbath was created for us. It is a gift. Like all of the commands, God meant this one for Israel's good. The word Sabbath means "rest," and we all need rest. God chose to rest after His work of creation. In that creation, He designed us to function best with a day of rest each week, as well. We're not meant to go 24/7 without a break. We're built to follow His pattern of 6 + 1 -- and for that one to involve focused worship of the Creator. Ever since Jesus showed up, people have been debating about what, exactly, are the rules of the Sabbath. But our Christian freedom from the law of Moses doesn't mean we have to give up the benefits of the Sabbath command in some form or another. We can still enjoy a day off each week for God's glory and our own good. Think: Do you or your family intentionally find a way to enjoy a day of rest each week? If not, what would it take for you to do so? What would it cost you? How would it benefit you and/or God? Pray: Ask God to help you know how you should practice keeping a "day of rest and worship" each week. Do: Ask some of the Christians you know and respect if, how, and why they practice a day of "Sabbath rest" each week. |
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