The Seventh Day
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Genesis 2:1-3. On the seventh day, God had finished creating the heavens and earth, and all the other things He created. So, God took a break from His work and rested on the seventh day. He blessed the seventh day, and declared it to be holy, because it was a day of rest for Him, after the creation. God set an example for us letting us know that we need to work, but our body, mind, and spirit also needs rest.
Exodus 20:11 calls the seventh day the Sabbath day, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
In Exodus 31:16-17 God instructed Moses about the Sabbath, “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” This is why the Jewish people observe the seventh day of the week as their, Sabbath, day of rest.
Christians on the other hand, observe Sunday as their day of worship and rest, because Jesus rose on the first day of the week, and the work was finished. John 19:30 tells us, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
It was also, the first day of the week, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church in Acts 2. God created light on the first day of the week and Jesus is the “Light” of the world. Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” The first day of the week is considered to be the Lord’s Day.
In the Old Testament the people lived under the Law, but after Jesus’ resurrection, as believers, we now live by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:23-25 says, “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
Daily Bible Reading:
Genesis 2:1-3
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Things to think about:
- What day of the week do you take as your day of rest and worship?
- Why do the Jewish people observe the Sabbath on the seventh day?
- Why do Christians observe Sunday as the Lord’s Day?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
As we study this passage of Scripture we see Your example of work and rest. Help us to observe a day of rest and worship to You. You show us that You created our bodies to work, but we also need rest. Help us to treat our bodies as Your temple. Help us to serve You in a way that brings honor and glory to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Christian Music Video:
Birthday Bash
Celebrating Deborah’s 60th Birthday
Deborah’s 60th birthday is this week. In celebration of her birthday she is offering six books that she has written on the book of Psalms for only 99 cents each. This is a limited offer only good May 17th – 22nd.
Go ahead and get all six of the books, if you don’t already have them, while they are at this special discounted price. Thanks for participating in the celebration. Enjoy the books!
The Book of Psalms: Part 1 Chapters 1-30
The Book of Psalms: Part 2 Chapters 31-60
The Book of Psalms: Part 3 Chapters 61-90
The Book of Psalms: Part 4 Chapters 91-118
Psalm 119: Thy Word is a Lamp unto My Feet
The Book of Psalms: Part 5 Chapters 120-150
Happy Reading!
Have a blessed day,
Deborah
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