1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian The Sabbath | Page 5

God says that He wants one day a week of our time. In fact, He declares that it belongs to
Him. We will examine what God says He wants us to do with the Sabbath day later on, but
take note that when God declares it to be holy, He is saying, “It belongs to Me!”When we
fail to use it in the way He specifies, we profane it and drag that which is holy into the
realm of the secular. What it boils down to is not unreasonable: out of 168 hours a week,
God wants only 24; or out of 365 days a year God wants only 51. Of this, one third will be
spent sleeping. It is not much at all, but we have become so secular in our thinking, our
minds so conformed to the pattern of this world, that we are reluctant to give Him what
He asks of us.
Prayer Thought: While we are not dealing with issues that relate directly to our eternal
salvation, we are dealing with issues of trust in God. Remind yourself that while God may
warn us of the consequences of disobedience, God never explains His Law to us. He wants
us to trust Him. Are you willing to trust Him enough to obey Him? Are you willing to allow
renewal of your mind in order to escape conformity to the patterns of this world system?
Ask God for His help with this.

Wednesday
Genesis 1:5,7, 13, 19, 23, 31, 2:2-3
Sabbath comes to us from the Hebrew word Shabbat which simply means rest. In essence
it bears no reference to a day or to a number. It became associated with the seventh day
of the week simply because we are told that God rested from all the work He had done on
the seventh day. There are three important facts we need to note at this point in time:
Firstly, Shabbat is about rest. This is its meaning and this is why a day was given this name
– because on this seventh day God rested. It is not about rules. It is not about religion. It
is about rest. There is no doubt in my mind that the heart of the teaching about Shabbat
is rest. I am convinced that this is what is in God’s heart when He speaks of it as well. God
wants us to rest!
Secondly, Shabbat was introduced at Creation and so, like the Tithe, predates its inclusion
in the Law. Keeping the Sabbath or paying a Tithe was not introduced by the Law and,
unlike all the sacrifices and rituals that were, have not passed away because they were
fulfilled by Christ. Jesus did not pay your tithes for you, nor is He resting for you. These
are things that we need to do ourselves.