In Deuteronomy 5:29, God expresses His hope that His people would always follow His commandments so that they and their children could prosper.
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!
Recently, I talked with a pastor friend about whether Jesus had done away with the law. He quickly replied, “Of course not. As Christians, we still believe in the Ten Commandments.” With a playful smile, I asked, “Don’t you mean the nine commandments?” He smiled, understanding my point. Many Christians uphold nine commandments but often overlook the fourth one:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)
The Sabbath is a special day to rest, spend time with God, and connect with each other. It’s not just a day off, and it can’t be substituted with another day.
This neglect is part of a larger trend where some Christians unintentionally drift away from God’s blessings by not fully observing His commandments. For instance, Isaiah 58:13-14 highlights the joy and triumph that come from honouring the Sabbath:
“If you call the Sabbath a delight… then you will find your joy in the Lord…”
Following God’s commandments brings joy and is a sign of our faith in Jesus. It’s sad that many miss out on these blessings, believing incorrectly that Jesus abolished God’s laws.
God longs for us to have hearts that respect and follow His commands. A Jewish friend once shared, “I don’t understand why Christians don’t keep the Sabbath. It’s our favourite day of the week, like Christmas every week without the presents.” He’s right. We miss out on the joy and blessings of truly seeking God’s righteousness by keeping His commandments.
Observing the Sabbath is just one commandment. There are many others, and Jesus, along with Paul, emphasised that keeping God’s commandments is vital. (Matthew 5:17-20; Romans 3:31)
Imagine the blessings we could experience by fully embracing and following God’s commands: “…that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”
Let’s return to the full blessing that God offers us through Jesus, our Messiah.
Join Ps Greg Cumming every Saturday morning from 9-10am AEST for The Torah Portion. thetorahportion.org
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