October 20: SABBATH

Believe it:

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land…” Isaiah 58:13-14a (NIV)

Live it:

We can learn three lessons from today’s text.
1. The Sabbath is to be respected. Today’s text mentions three things to avoid: business, non-spiritual activities, and idle words. Why? Because God is a God of relationships. He knows we can’t do two or three things at the same time and pay attention to them all. He wants that time for Himself. By not doing what He asks us to avoid, our attention will be focused on God and on His love, instead of on ourselves and our problems.
2. Enjoy next Sabbath. Get up early. Pray with your family before leaving for church. Look forward to being a blessing as well as receiving one. Sing with joy. Take an active part in the service. Sit near the front. Greet visitors. Invite someone over to eat at your home. Rest. Do good to others. Spend quality time with family. Close the Sabbath with worship, and begin looking forward to the return of the Sabbath next week.
3. The Sabbath brings great blessings. As the only day set apart by God, the Sabbath brings blessings that are unique in nature. Today’s text mentions three: experiencing joy, climbing to new heights, and indescribable delight. Claim these promises for yourself.

Share it:

Invite someone to eat in your home next Sabbath. Do it today! Preferably invite a newly baptized member or visitor.

My prayer today: for the weather

-Pray for appropriate weather, so it does not interfere or discourage people from attending the event.

-Pray that the weather will be our ally, not our enemy.

from God’s City, My City