Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy

How important is setting aside a day for worship and the study of God’s Word?

It is important enough that God commanded that we worship Him. The Third Commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.” He didn’t suggest that we worship Him when we have time. He didn’t imply that it might be a good idea to come to church once in a while when we have nothing better to do. He commands it!

In fact, God takes His command to take a Sabbath-rest in Him and His Word so seriously that in the Old Testament, if someone did work on that day, they were stoned to death! “Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.” (Exodus 31:14-15)

Why would God attach so severe a penalty to worshiping Him? Because He knows how we are workaholics. If given the chance, we would fill our time with work. And then fill any remaining time with “resting” from that work with naps, vacations, soccer games, etc. Very quickly, we would squeeze God out of our lives.

Isn’t that the life of the American Christian? Work hard. Play hard. Worship a little.

So what does it mean to keep this Sabbath day holy? Martin Luther answers this question in his Large Catechism: “Nothing else than to be occupied with holy words, works, and life. God desires the day to be holy to you. Therefore, it becomes holy or unholy because of you, whether you are occupied on that day with things that are holy or unholy.”

When you have to make a choice between worshiping the Lord or working, sleeping in, hunting, golfing, catching up on housework or whatever, ask yourself a few questions:

“What does God want me to be doing? What makes Him happy – my praise of Him or whatever else I’m doing?”

“Am I a Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet to hear His Word or am I a Martha who tried to please Jesus by cleaning the house and cooking the meal?”

“Am I making the Lord the first priority in my life or am I trying to squeeze Him into my life?”

After a long hard week of work, transporting children to all their various activities, shopping, cleaning, cooking, taking care of Mom or Dad, and whatever else we have to do during a week, aren’t you tired? Don’t you need a rest? Don’t you need to have your spiritual batteries recharged?

Where else are you going to do that but in the House of the Lord – with His Words of forgiveness removing the burden of sin you’ve been carrying around all week; with His Words of rest for the weary soul; with His own body and blood to strengthen you for the week ahead.

There is no other place that God wants you to be than with Him in His Word and Sacraments. Martin Luther again put it very well: “God’s Word is the sanctuary above all sanctuaries. Yes, it is the only one we Christians know and have. Though we had the bones of all the saints or all holy and consecrated garments upon a heap, still that would not help us at all. All that stuff is a dead thing that can sanctify no one. But God’s Word is the treasure that sanctifies everything (1 Timothy 4:5). By the Word even all the saints themselves are sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11). Whenever God’s Word is taught, preached, heard, read, or meditated upon, then the person, day, and work are sanctified (made holy). This is not because of the outward work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. Therefore, I constantly say that all our life and work must be guided by God’s Word, if it is to be God-pleasing or holy. Where this is done, this commandment is in force and being fulfilled.”

Though we are lost children during the week, the Father welcomes us home for a feast. Though we are straying sheep, the Good Shepherd invites us back into His flock to be fed. Though we are creatures who have crucified the Creator, still He forgives us and makes us His own. Though we fill our minds with all kinds of needless, frivolous, even harmful information, the Holy Spirit sanctifies our minds with His Word. Though our hearts are dark and decaying with sin, Jesus sets up the throne of His Kingdom in our hearts. Though we makes excuses about why we don’t worship or read the Scriptures or partake of the Sacrament, the Lord of heaven and earth invites us to come, eat, drink, hear, see, and feel His forgiveness.

Why would we ever want anything different?