Where are you setting up camp?
Ex 33: 11 And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
Ge 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Ge 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.
In Ex 33:11, we read in the travels of the children of Israel, how they encamped in the wilderness of Sin.
Now, this is simply a name given to a place in the desert, but Holy Spirit caused me to think about the state of many Christians. We are called to be in the world, but not of it. Problem is, sometimes the world gets in us, and we need a bath in the Word of God. Our day to day discipline of Bible reading, prayer, and church attendence, are not enough to keep us clean from the influences of the world, and our spiritual senses become dulled. We find ourself laughing at marginal jokes, and begin to hear words coming out of our mouths, that are far from faith and that which the Word of God would have us to speak. We are in the world, and now, the world is in us…
The good news is that God still loves us, and there is no condemnation in Jesus! If we are working hard, and get dirty, we simply take a shower and clean up. If we are working hard in the workplace,and find ourselves jaded, sarcastic, and cynical from the rough and tumble of life, it’s time to take a spiritual bath. Now for me, my favorite drug of choice is the audio Bible, where I lay myself down, and let the Word of God feed, wash, cleanse, and strengthen me. Sometimes, this has taken longer than I planned. I remember one day, after an incredibly intense day, saying to the Lord: “You are the resurrection and the life! I’m done! Resurrect me through your Word!” As always, He is faithful, and He did it again! Others receive best in a conference setting, or listening to good teaching CD’s or DVD’s, others, it is extended times of praise and worship. Some need quiet reflection and silence in the wilderness. Whatever way you receive from God, like Nike says: Just Do it!
God knew we needed this in our week, that’s why He implemented the Sabbath, one day a week, to stop, Ex 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Ex 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
Is 58:13 ¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
I am more and more convinced that we need to keep this day, unto the Lord. That when we do, He will honour, promote, protect, prosper, and bless, and refresh us for the long life He promises us.
Ac 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
It seems clear that Paul kept the Sabbath, yet many Christians celebrate on Sunday.
J. Vernon McGee tells this story about a man who wanted to argue about the Sabbath. The man said, “I’ll give you $100 if you will show me where the Sabbath day has been changed.” McGee answered, “I don’t think it has been changed. Saturday is Saturday, it is the seventh day of the week, and it is the Sabbath day. I realize our calendar has been adjusted, and can be off a few days, but we won’t even consider that point. The seventh day is still Saturday, and it is still the Sabbath day.” He got a gleam in his eye and said, “Then why don’t you keep the Sabbath day if it hasn’t been changed?” McGee answered, “the DAY hasn’t changed, but I have been changed. I’ve been given a new nature now, I am joined to Christ; I am a part of the new creation. We celebrate the first day because that is the day He rose from the grave.” That is what it means that the ordinances have been nailed to the cross, Colosians 2:14.
J. Vernon McGee.
I am not going to get into a fight over the Sabbath. Paul still kept it, as a Jew. Many Christians still keep it, and I cannot see where it has ever been removed from the Scripture.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Let’s Pray:
‘Father, I come before you today, asking you for a break in the schedule, time apart at your feet to rest and receive from you, to be replenished,revived,cleansed, and quickened by your Word. In your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.’
