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Oh To Be Wise Meditations
Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to me. Yes, Remember the Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God). I can't help but think right off the bat, the mind and heart rest Christ provides through the Gospel. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. God has promised us a Sabbath when we will rest, even though it has not yet come. The promise of entering his rest still stands though, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. We have heard this message, just as our ancestors did. It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.' But many have failed to believe what they heard, and the message did not do them any good. Only people who have faith will enter the place of rest. It is just as the Scriptures say, "God became angry and told the people, 'You will never enter my place of rest!'" God said this, even though everything has been ready from the time of creation. In fact, somewhere the Scriptures say that by the seventh day, God had finished his work, and so he rested. This same matter is spoken of again: "They will never enter that land where I would have given them rest." This means that the promise to enter is still good, because those who first heard about it disobeyed and did not enter. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” Remember the Sabbath day is so much deeper than what it appears. From the outside it looks like just the observance of a day. But look closer, the power of the Gospel can be experienced. Whoever enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Its time we rest from our works and pursue the salvation rest that comes from a personal relationship with Christ.
Study Ex. 20:8
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