January 8, 2022

Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him; he who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:5-6

Jesus walked this earth without a single mistake. We have the gift of a perfect example, and our aim should be to walk just as He walked. It is interesting that most of the confrontations between the religious leaders and the Savior were over Sabbath-keeping. Jesus was repeatedly accused of breaking the Sabbath. In actuality, He was demonstrating true Sabbath-keeping. The burdensome and lengthy list of rules and regulations were traditions that had been added (perhaps by well-meaning leaders who wanted to “help” God). But adding to God’s word is not the same as keeping it! Adding to, deleting from, or altering what God has said are gravely serious offenses against Him.

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 4:2  

Every word of God is pure . . . Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6  

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19

The LORD God put the Sabbath into place at creation (Genesis 2:1-3) and assures us that it will still be in place for eternity (Isaiah 66:22-23). And in-between we are reminded to remember it as a sign, recognizing the Creator who sanctified, or set apart as holy, this special day (Exodus 20:8-11). He is also the Redeemer whose power sanctifies us in order to save us from eternal death:

“I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” Ezekiel 20:12

This day of resting in the Lord also affords an invitation to those who do not know Him yet: “the stranger within your gates” (Exodus 20:10) and “Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants — everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath and holds fast My covenant. Isaiah 56:6

HAPPY SABBATH!