God made it very clear to the Israelites that they were to keep His laws. If they did, He promised them great blessings. If they didn’t, it was only a matter of time before a disaster was on their doorstep. While we have been extended grace through the cross of Christ God still hasn’t changed His heart. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His message is simple, “Walk in my ways.”
Ezekiel 20:19-20
“I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them. Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
It Starts With Obedience
Israel had a hard time keeping their eyes on God. They didn’t obey his law or set apart the Sabbath day as holy. Instead, they did what was right in their own eyes and did whatever they wanted on the Sabbath. This leads them to be corrected by God and eventually being led into captivity. If they would’ve obeyed His Word, they would’ve been close to Him and experienced more blessings than they could imagine.
To Know the Lord
If we don’t obey God’s Word, we will never know Him as Lord. Obedience is essential to every believer. It won’t matter how much we go to church or how much we like to sing worship songs if we don’t live a life of obedience, it will amount to nothing. Jesus told us that those who do what the Word says are His brothers and sisters. To those who don’t, they won’t be acknowledged at the Judgment Seat.
Walk in My Ways
This may seem harsh, but it doesn’t take away its truth. Yes, God’s grace is there, and He extends mercy to those who are helpless, but there is a large segment of Christians who, after salvation, go and do their own thing. They don’t set apart the Sabbath to worship the Lord, and they live in disobedience. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to resist temptation and live a holy life in obedience to Christ. Ask Him to transform your heart. Once you do, Jesus will become more real and much closer.
I HAVE A QUESTION:-
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE INSIGHT ON SETTING APART THE SABBATH HOLLY.
Sunday,
Keeping the Sabbath holy means that you will cease work for one day and you will commit it to worship and to rest. God set this example for us in Genesis and confirmed it in the 10 commandments.
Chuck your response is almost correct. God created the Sabbath as part of the creation week as seen in Genesis and also gave it to us as one of the 10 commandments to remember its observance. I don’t understand how you inserted Sunday into you response. The seventh day is the Sabbath and we see Jesus keeping it holy We are to cease our labour and to keep the day holy, not just one day , but the Sabbath.
Steven, The only reason that I was specific about Sunday is that is the day the Christian church recognizes as the day to assemble and worship. I didn’t want to get the semantics of which is right but use it as something people already understand.