The Sabbath: A Guiding Light for Life

by Kelly McDonald, Jr.

“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Proverbs 6:23)

A lamp provides light in darkness. We live in a dark world. All of God’s commandments can be looked at as a lamp because each one provides light to guide us in this world. Light illuminates an unseen path; it makes the uncertainty of our path more sure. We could take each commandment in the Law and explain in detail the guiding light it provides.

One commandment in particular, the Sabbath, routinely guides our lives. When we have purposed in our heart to rest on the Sabbath, our weekly actions are all focused with the Sabbath in mind. Lawn work, washing the cars, our job, weekly grocery shopping and so forth are all planned out with the central focus that the Sabbath is to be honored. This means we make decisions throughout the week. If we can’t get some things done before the Sabbath, then we put them off until after the Sabbath is over.

In other words, the Sabbath is the guiding light for our activities throughout the week. It helps us prioritize what is most important in our lives – the most important activity being the special rest of God that starts Friday at sunset.

Allow the Sabbath to be a light in your life to guide your weekly activities so that you enter into God’s rest.

Kelly McDonald, Jr. is the current president of the BSA. You can visit His website here: kellymcdonaldjr.com

Sabbath Action Blast!

But the rest of us. . . well, we’ll be mentally high-fiving those creative people who’ve found ways to really celebrate God’s special day! In these pages are 101 of the best Sabbath activity ideas that Guide editors have ever seen ─ nearly 2 years’ worth of fun! Some of these activities are great for groups, while others are perfect for solo ventures. And whether you plan ahead or flip through on the spur of the moment, you’re sure to find something to make you smile, laugh, have fun, and learn about God!

To order this book, just click the link below:

https://biblesabbath.org/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=103&=SID

Understanding Romans 14:5

By Calvin Burrell

Many Christians give little or no thought to the seventh-day Sabbath of Scripture.  Others have examined the question and been persuaded against Sabbath by two Bible verses that can appear, on surface, to overturn the seventh day of the week as a Christian observance.

Romans 14:5

The fourteenth chapter of Romans deals with issues that troubled the early Church, like eating meat, drinking wine, and observing days.  Concerning the latter, Paul wrote, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.  Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (v. 5).

This inspired counsel from the Apostle to Gentiles reduces the importance of special days for the Christian. Some celebrations on the church calendar, at least, are optional; we may observe them or not without displeasing the Lord. When we think of the seventh day Sabbath of Creation, of its centrality in the Decalogue, and especially of Christ’s teaching and example regarding it, we may rightly question whether the ambiguity of Romans 14:5 applies here.

Based on this verse, many affirm that all time is sacred and that no day is more important than another.  This proposition deserves reflection, both from the standpoints of Scripture and of human nature.  We are not likely to regard all time as holy unless some of it is set apart as uniquely so. This is precisely what happened at Creation. The Sabbath is the only day God ever hallowed above others.

If all days are treated equally holy by people, then all will become equally unholy–eventually.  Just as it is important to have an appointed place for corporate worship, so it is vital that we have an appointed time for it.  We seldom do anything regularly without a time for it.

The Sabbath serves as a guardian on all our time.  Keeping it holy in a Biblical sense increases the likelihood that every day will be lived in the center of God’s holy will.  Sabbath is the blessed day of God that leads us to the house of God with the people of God to believe the Son of God, to receive the Spirit of God and to do the will of God continually–according to His Word.  Because we keep one day especially holy, God’s presence and purposes are more easily remembered every day of our lives.  Forget Sabbath today; forget God tomorrow.

Considering the debate Paul faced over circumcision, it is scarcely possible that he could have dismissed the Sabbath with this one verse without even mentioning the day, or without facing greater debate—not recorded in the New Testament.  “Every day” in verse five here can mean “every day except the Sabbath,” just as it does in Exodus 16:4.

When Paul says, “Let each be fully convinced in his own mind,” we should ask, “Convinced by what?”  By the declarations of men that all days are equal?  Or by God’s creation-week declaration that the seventh day of the week is holy (Genesis 2:2-3)? And by Jesus’ statements that He is Lord of the Sabbath and that God made Sabbath for all our benefits (Mark 2:28-28)?

Romans 14:5 was written about doubtful topics–not those the Bible makes plain.  Bible scholars agree that a doubtful text should not be used to negate a plain one. Paul would be vexed to know that any statement of his was isolated to abolish any part of the God-spoken, God-written decalogue.  When teaching on Christian duty, rather than the means to salvation, he wrote that God’s “law is holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12); and that “keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (I Corinthians 7:19).

It still matters.

Sabbath Evening (Erev Shabbat) Family Service

(also Called “Erev Shabbat”, Hebrew for Evening of the Sabbath)

Throughout the week, we are all running to and fro. We are going to ballgames, work, school, and other events. The Erev Shabbat Service is a special service performed by the Jewish people for over 2,000 years. It would have been performed in the time of Jesus. It is a great way to welcome in the Sabbath as a family and make the dividing line between Holy Time of the Sabbath and the common time of the week we are leavening behind.

While it is mostly performed by Sabbath keepers with a Messianic background, it is a great learning tool for all Sabbath keepers. It is a way to speak life and blessing into your family. It is a great way to spend interactive time with your family.

Just click the link below to access this FREE resource!

https://kellymcdonaldjr.com/erev-shabbat-ceremony/

Marriage Maintenance and Repair

by Kenneth Westby

“In sickness and in health; till death do us part.” Hundreds of times I’ve said those words as bride and groom dutifully repeated them as their own vows. I’m sure they meant those solemn promises and at the moment thought they would be able to honor them. After all, love covers all and the newlyweds are in love. Well, not so fast. Many times I wondered after performing a marriage ceremony if the couple would make the marriage work. In a few weeks JoAn and I will have been married fifty years and can both testify to ups and downs and to the commitment required to make a marriage work.

And it’s not just “work” toward a “lasting” union that is the sole goal here, but the reaping of the luscious fruit of a happy, love-filled dynamic marriage: joy, comfort, security, friendship, companionship, pleasure, challenge, adventure, and the list goes on. What happens to the smooth newlywed life when a grave, disabling injury comes along; when job loss puts all plans on hold; when arguments over money problems dominate time together; when arguments with relatives complicate the relationship; when children are born; when weight is gained or beauty wanes; when sex and attraction become issues both within and outside the marriage; when the romance disappears; when communication dries up or becomes banal or antagonistic, and this list could go on ticking off a common array of potholes into which many marriages sink. But marriage is too important to end in failure. Uniqueness of Marriage Marriage is fundamental to channeling human nature in positive directions…”

(This article is an excerpt from the May-June 2014 edition of the Sabbath Sentinel)

To read the rest of this article, which starts on page 4, click this link:

http://biblesabbath.org/media/TSS_lowres_3-4-14_No-567.pdf

How I Came to Learn About the Sabbath

By Larry Hardison

As a child I never had any exposure to God’s Sabbath. When we went to church, which wasn’t often, it was always on the first day of the week, Sunday. Not until after I was released from military service in my early 20s did I have any exposure, which came through my mother. While I was in service, she was studying the Ambassador Bible Correspondence Course; but at that time she had not begun to practice her new faith.

Beginning in 1967, I began exploring and reading with her encouragement. In 1968, after previous readings and detailed studying, I began to keep the Sabbath, even though my efforts were not fully successful. In 1969 I became more serious which brought me into conflict with my work schedule with a major airline. Company management, the union and I discussed this conflict. However, the Company and union had never before encountered any significant on-going Sabbath commitment and because Title 7 of the Equal Employment Opportunities Act was relatively new at the time, there was little legal guidance.

Quickly, events turned sour as the union adhered to their contracted seniority policy which locked me in to Sabbath period conflicts. Because I refused to work on Sabbath and was not allowed any relief, I was charged with insubordination and subsequently terminated (cf Hardison v TWA et al). Later I would run into discriminatory hiring practices, none of which I pursued legally. Eventually, I found work on a salary basis with no major Sabbath conflicts. During the years of 1969 through 1995, I was a    member of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God. In the spring of 1995 I became  a member of the United Church of God and was recognized as a deacon in 1997.

Since January of 2013 my wife and I have observed the Sabbath and Appointed Times independently, though retaining our membership in U.C.G., as we now follow the observed Biblical calendar rather than the calculated rabbinic calendar initiated by Hillel 2nd a.k.a. Hebrew calendar. The Appointed Times as many know from Leviticus 23:1-3 are YHWH’s times, the weekly Sabbath being mentioned first.

Since this tumultuous beginning of keeping God’s weekly Sabbath day, I have observed it – promoted it – debated it (to no effect except to receive compliments) – preached it – exampled it all through God’s guidance and help 48 years.

52 Sabbath Activities for Teen Groups

By Don Pate

Here are 52 proven, surefire, guaranteed ─ fun activities to make Sabbath really special for teens! Each activity section gives you step-by-step instructions for making it happen and tells you what preparation and materials you’ll need and the minimum time required for the activity. Whether you’re a youth leader, teacher, or pastor, you’ll find this book a valuable resource for creating Sabbaths that bring teens exciting fellowship with God and Christian friends.

To order this book, just click the link below:

https://biblesabbath.org/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=104&=SID