Greeting Members and Friends
It time once again for our weekly Sunday School preview so thanks for joining me and welcome back. The September unit focuses on God’s covenant promises and is entitled “Signs of God’s Covenants”. At various times in human history, the bible tells us of promises or agreements God made. Some of these promises or agreements are referred to as “covenants” and were between God and something He created.
A covenant may require something on the part of that which is created or it may be something God decides to do alone. Today’s lesson entitled “SABBATH OBSERVANCE” teaches us about the importance God places on observing a day of rest. This day of rest is not a request, but a command. It is a sign between God and His people for all generations. The Sabbath beside being a sign of the covenant serves several purposes. The Sabbath places emphasis on the welfare of man. By taking a day of rest, it gives the physical body and mind a chance to renew and regenerate. The Sabbath signifies that no work or pursuit is so important that it can’t wait one day to honor and commune with God.
The Sabbath command is given because we are made in God’s image and observing the Sabbath is another way we are called to imitate God. The Sabbath also extends rest to those who work for us and demonstrates compassion to others, even beast of burden. Greed and idolatry has served to undermine the observance of the Sabbath since the day it was instituted. The Sabbath is a day intended for man to reflect upon and reaffirm his relationship with God with special thanksgiving, worship and praise. But man has totally ignored the Sabbath and uses it to promote his own agenda and plans without any regard toward God. However, as Christians we should endeavor to make the Sabbath special and set it apart from other days as a way of honoring God and displaying our covenant relation with Him.
You can get a deeper understanding of this lesson by reading the daily SS readings found in your SS books and on our website and mobile app. Well, that’s all for this week’s preview. Be sure to join us in Sunday School this week for a fuller discussion of this lesson and the general topic of biblical covenants. So, until then
Grace and peace
Pastor Jordan
