“1 At that time Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, 4 how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? 6 I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.
9 Moving on from there, Jesus went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and looked for a way to put Him to death” Matthew 12:1-14.
On Sundays, we Christians are to withdraw from the earthly tasks that preoccupy us throughout the week and enter into God’s Sabbath rest. In fact it is a At the same time, we must remember that “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (12:12). In fact, Sunday is a day well-suited for commandment of God for us all — to keep the Sabbath holy! The Sabbath is also a day to do charitable works. On Sunday Christians also ought to pursue doing some good works and humble service of the sick, the infirm, and the elderly. So it is clear that Sunday is a particularly good day to volunteer at a soup kitchen, give help to the poor, or visit the sick in hospitals and nursing homes.
Moreover, the good that Christians should do on the Sabbath can also take place right in their own homes, by devoting time and care to their families and relatives, often difficult to do on other days of the week. Indeed, with every other day filled up with constant projects, tasks, and errands, raising kids and taking care of elderly parents, observing the Sabbath rest forces us to set aside the busyness of life and focus on our most important relationships. By not treating Sunday as a day to catch up on yard work, shopping, and paying bills, we can enter more fully into the Sabbath and catch up with the family and friends God has placed in our lives, so that in leisure we can begin to see the true face of the people with whom we live.
But the Sabbath must begin with worship because God deserve our worship, and we need to receive the grace of God in our lives.
So pray that you will keep the Sabbath holy. If you are not going to worship, try to go from now on. Don’t make exceptions. Don’t fill your head with excuses why the church is to blame. Do what God tells you to do! Do what Jesus did every Sabbath! And when you go to worship God, don’t go trying to see how much you get out of worship! Instead, go trying to see how much you can give God thanks and praise. Go praying that God’s grace will come to you on its way to others!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” John 14:15.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” James 1:22.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you” Luke 6:46?
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