For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. Matthew 12:8 (NKJV)

How are you doing on your Jesus journey, my friend?  How has your year been going?  As I look around at our world and hear the news, I pray for a revival and for God to heal our land. But the only way for a revival is for hearts to turn to Him in repentance. And so, instead of pointing fingers, I look into my own heart for places I need to repent.  One place sure hit me be surprise!

I loved Sundays, I loved church, I loved worshiping Jesus and singing there and seeing friends, and coming home for an afternoon nap.  I thought I was keeping the Sabbath.  And then suddenly, after all those years, God showed me and others that no, I wasn’t celebrating HIS Sabbath, for His Sabbath is on the 7th day of the week.  It’s right there in the Genesis story…and on the seventh day He rested (Genesis 2:2).  It’s right there in the Ten Commandments…remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy (Exodus 20:8).  It’s right there in the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel…nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath Day (Jeremiah 17:21-22).  It is right there in the Gospels, when Jesus asked, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good?” (Mark 3:4). It is right in the book of Acts, when they started worshiping on the first day of the week, the day Jesus rose from the grave…it says, they went a Sabbath’s Day journey (Acts. 1:12).  How could I miss that after reading my Bible daily for over a quarter of a century?

For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”. Hebrews 4:4 (NKJV)

Now we know we are not saved by following the Law (Galatians 5:4), yet it is our guide to live a holy life in Christ Jesus. And so I come before the throne of grace and ask Jesus’ forgiveness for messing with His Sabbaths all these years.  We’re still trying to figure out just what it means, how best to worship Him on this day.  Our family started a home church on Saturday mornings. The country lane where we live is called Dry Creek Road, so we call our home church, Dry Creek Bible Fellowship, where Jesus’ Living Water is poured out freely to quench the thirsty.  Our youngest son plays piano while we sing a few hymns.  We confess our sins and read a Psalm.  We pray for others God has put upon our hearts.  We read God’s Word, an Old Testament and a New Testament chapter each week.  And we share what God has taught us in His Word that week. Lastly, we give each other the Bread and Cup, remembering Jesus’ Body and Blood and sacrificial death on the cross, His resurrection and ascension until He comes to take us home.  We welcome others to join us.

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11 (NKJV)

Today’s TEA CUPP:  Dear One, we must all search God’s Word and search our hearts for where we fall short. What is it that God is calling you to do?  What area of your life doesn’t match up completely with His Word? Turn to Jesus in repentance and ask His help to walk His straight and narrow path.  Read Nehemiah 13:15-22 for more about the Sabbath.  

…And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. Luke 23:56 (NKJV)

And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:5 (NKJV)

 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV)

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  Hebrews 4:13 (NKJV)

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1 John 2:3 (NKJV)

That He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. 1 Kings 8:58 (NKJV)

…What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day?   Nehemiah 13:17 (NKJV)

…guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Nehemiah 13:22 (NKJV)

…They have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths… Ezekiel 22:26 (NKJV)

Moreover 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. Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.  Ezekiel 20:12-13 (NKJV)

Because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.  Ezekiel 20:24 (NKJV)

If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 58:13-14 (NKJV)

…For He who has mercy on them will lead them,
Even by the springs of water He will guide them. Isaiah 40:10 (NKJV)

Thus says the Lord:

Scripture from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson