Time with Jesus - Thursday, 15
March 2012
Hi all,
How
do you see the Sabbath? For the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), it’s a Holy day.
That’s the day they assemble to worship God. We also have a day of rest. At
least we’re supposed to have one. The pressure of modern business has just
about removed the day from the weekly cycle. Those who can, take their Sabbath
on Sundays. Is this acceptable from God’s perspective? Should we go back to
celebrating the Sabbath on Saturday?
Is
this change from Saturday to Sunday acceptable to God? The SDA say No! That God
commanded that it should be on the seventh day and that’s it’s cast in
concrete. What to do with this view is something I’m not in a position to deny
or endorse. We all must decide this for ourselves. We are told that the early church
met on the Lord’s Day and not on the Sabbath. Perhaps your hotline to God can
help?
In
today’s meditation, I’ve tried to take us all on a journey from where the
heavens are declaring His glory, to resting in Him and trusting Him. I’ve
assumed that the Sabbath Day was made for His people and not His people for the
Sabbath. I’ve painted the Sabbath as a day when we can rest, relax and enjoy
fellowship with Him and with each other. Sadly, in today’s world, few of us
have time to observe the Sabbath in the beautiful way He intended.
It
would be wonderful if we could do so. It would be fantastic if we could take a
few minutes of our day, any day, to listen to His voice and hear Him speaking
to us. Because we haven’t got the time for Him, we scratch round trying to find
some purpose and meaning to what we are doing. There is a solution. Take time
to take a Sabbath rest.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
THE LORD OF THE SABBATH
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The heavens declare God’s glory. The
stars come out at night,
To
twinkle out their special song, in bursts of glowing light.
Together in a symphony of praises to
the King,
Who
spoke the Word and thereby, has created everything.
How long did all this take Him? We’re
told it took six days.
He
rested on the Sabbath; our God of timeless ways!
We think of the rotation of our planet
here below.
But
four and twenty hours? We really do not know.
Could each “day” be an epoch, of many,
many years?
It
really isn’t stated and so is not too clear.
It’s also not important. Not from the
Lord’s high view.
A
day is as a thousand years; and to the Lord that’s true.
So was the time specific? Perhaps it
was that way?
But
when was it the Lord defined the length of just one day?
So please don’t let us argue. A day, a
month, a year,
What
difference will it ever make, when Jesus Christ is here?
And this we know for certain, God made
the Sabbath Day.
It
wasn’t a suggestion, about a way to pray.
A day of rest, He stated, was made for
everyone.
A
day to take things easy. A day when work is done.
A day for recreation; and Holy fellowship,
With
Jesus and His people. When He can reequip;
His people for the battle which they
face every day.
To
worship the Almighty, do it His Sabbath way.
“Refresh yourself” He told me, in
nineteen eighty one.
“Drink
deeply from My Spirit. Then you may carry on”.
I can’t forget what happened. It’s
forged into my brain.
Each
time I think about it, it settles all the pain
Of working for a living, so I could
earn a wage;
To
take care of my family, until another stage,
When I could focus on Him and give to
Him my all.
Doing
what He wanted and answering His call.
In those past days of blessing, some
thirty years ago.
He
told me that He loved me and wanted me to know,
That He had made a Sabbath wherein I
could delight.
And
in His Wholesome presence, could learn to do things right.
Now when I think of Sabbath, I think
of taking time.
Of
resting in the spirit with Jesus Christ Divine.
So if you’re feeling jaded and cannot
stand the pace,
Here’s
the one solution that you can put in place!
Think of all the blessings of putting
all aside,
And
spending time with Jesus as if you are His bride.
Give Him your weekly Sabbath. Make Him
your all in all.
You
won’t be disappointed. In fact you’ll have a ball.
Include all of the family so all may
be at rest.
Relax
and be with Jesus and see how you’ll be blessed.
Jim Strickland – Written 15th March 2012
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