Remember The Sabbath Day By Keeping It Holy

EXODUS 20:8

““Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/114/exo.20.8.NKJV

Remember the Sabbath day, by keeping it holy", serves as the fourth of the Ten Commandments directing people to set aside a weekly day of rest and devotion to God.

This is the only one of the Ten Commandments that begins with the word "remember," suggesting a call to keep a practice already established—specifically mirroring God's rest after creation in Genesis.

Into days world, it is not always easy to attend church every Sunday or on a weekly dedicated day. Working shifts and daily life can easily get in the way and ultimately damage our relationship with God.

Verse 9 instructs six days of labour, followed by verse 10 which commands a total cessation of ordinary work on the seventh day. This not only makes time for God, but gives us rest from our workplace.

In today’s world, many exploit themselves by striving for money at the cost of neglecting their relationship with God, others are living on the edge of poverty and feel forced to work every hour they can. For some, it’s children’s activities that get in the way. But whatever it is, we have to ask ourselves, are these opportunities from God, or a tactic of the devil.

My beloved, I remind you of Jesus words. ““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬-‭34‬ ‭NKJV

The pause from Labour applied universally within an Israelite household, extending to sons, daughters, servants, livestock, and foreign visitors, acting as a protection against endless toil and exploitation.

Verse 11 explains that God worked for six days and rested on the seventh, blessing and consecrating the Sabbath day.

Pausing regular work is an exercise of faith, reminding individuals that their survival depends on God's provision rather than non-stop productivity.

The day is designed to stop the cycle of endless busyness, creating space for worship, family, community restoration, and focus on God.

The Sabbath is a designated period of holy rest from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday in Judaism, meant to pause ordinary Labour.

Rooted in the Hebrew Bible (the Torah/Old Testament) as part of the Ten Commandments and the creation story, but it is a practice, not a religion.

A religion is a comprehensive system of faith, worldview, theology, and community worship centered on the divine. The Sabbath is simply a specific ritual or calendar observance within certain religions, primarily Judaism and some Christian denominations (like Seventh-day Adventists).

But Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.””

‭‭Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

While we believers must make time for God, the Sabbath, rather than a strict religious order from God, was designed to give man rest and time for worship. Jesus and His disciples themselves, broke the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28).

Over generations, religious leaders added scores of strict man-made rules to the Ten Commandments to guard the Sabbath, making the day a rigid burden rather than a blessing.

But Jesus reset the purpose of the Sabbath. God created the Sabbath as a gift of physical rest, spiritual renewal, and human well-being. People were not created to serve a rigid list of legalistic rules. Human need and mercy take priority over strict ritualism.

It therefore acts as a spiritual discipline, a covenant sign, or a practical day of rest, rather than an independent belief system or institutional creed.

Rather than allowing the Sabbath to be a burden that hinders your daily life, see it as practical guidance to make time for rest, family, and God, that works for you, and remember it by keeping it holy.

Jesus declared His supreme authority over the Sabbath day. As the one who instituted the Sabbath, Jesus has the right to define its proper use, application, and boundaries.

All glory be to God forever and ever! Amen.

Please share with our brothers and sisters all around the world.