What Is Your Sabbath?
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One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day.
“There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”
But the Lord replied,
“You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”
This shamed his enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.
(Luke 13:10-17 NLT)
When God rested in Genesis 2:2 and later instituted the Sabbath (Genesis 20:8-11) He was actually establishing something symbolic of the rest He will give all His children who do not have sinful, unbelieving hearts that turns away from the living Him (Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-11). Israel forfeited this rest when their hearts went astray in the wilderness (Psalm 95:1-11).
The synagogue leader in the text we just read obviously missed the whole purpose of the Sabbath, and its link to the ultimate rest. He was blinded by empty, legalistic, self-righteous and self-justifying traditions. These traditions, meant to be symbols, blinded him to the fact that Jesus said He had come to preach the gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18-21). The traditions which are supposed to remind people of God’s love, mercy and ultimate salvation have rather become shackles on peoples feet.
Today, many Christians have a whole lot of traditions they follow that become impediments to the larger purpose of God. The day on which Sabbath is celebrated itself has been a bone of contention in many circles. Then also are the many other rules, symbols, traditions, practices and ceremonies which were originally meant to point to a higher divine plan and purpose; but which themselves have become impediments to achieving the divine purpose.
In certain places you have to dress in a certain way, or keep your hair in a certain way to belong to their “body of Christ.” In others, you have to adhere rigidly to certain practices in Mosaic law to be accepted. Some have also latched on to certain practices and man-made traditions that prevent people from experiencing the grace, mercy and salvation of God.
People are prevented from entering certain churches just because of the way they look. What if the message that day would touch them, and lead them to Christ? A great chance to add to God’s kingdom would have been lost.
We need to look around us from time to time, and evaluate the rules. We need to assess the traditions we are adopting, copying and following. Then we should ask ourselves:
“Are these rules, traditions and practices helping people to see God as a loving and merciful God; or are they making God look mean, rigid, unreasonable and exacting?”
What is your Sabbath, that has become an impediment to God’s grace and love?
MEMORY VERSE
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor… “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
(Luke 4: 18-19,21)
QUESTIONS
What traditions, rules, practices, symbols and cermonies have become impediments to God’s grace, mercy and love in your life?
Do you know that they are meant to help, and not impede God’s Kingdom business?
PRAYER TIP
Father, please help me to use
traditions, rules, practices,
symbols, and ceremonies
to show your grace
mercy and love,
and not the contrary.
In Jesus' name.
URGENT CALL
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!
God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.
Then develop your new relationship
with God through your Quiet Time.
Then find a Bible-Believing Church
where you can Fellowship with like
minded people.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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