The Sabbath is like a temple in time—sanctified, blessed, made holy by God Himself. And it is so rich and deep in its meaning, pointing to God as the Creator of heaven and earth, and "the sea and springs of water," as we read in Revelation 14:7.
And as we "rest from our labors as God rested from His," we are reminded that it is much more than a physical rest–it symbolizes a deep, spiritual rest, as explained in Hebrews 4:8, 9— "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Isn't it interesting that in the very heart of the Ten Commandments, specifically in the fourth, we find rest? Rest from our labors. Rest from worry and care. Rest from trying to save ourselves. And, in fact, perhaps that is a good way to look at God's instructions–as given in the Ten Commandments–as a whole? Rather than seeing them as some strict list of–"You better not do this," "you better not do that"–instead we saw them as promises of what we can become through Christ, our living Savior?
In 1 John 5:2-5 we read the following amazing promise: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith" (1 John 5:2-5).
Did you catch that? Victory comes through faith! Faith in the blood and saving power of our Lord, Jesus Christ! Did you ever stop to consider—What if God's law was a law of love, and not of obligation? What if it's not a series of dos and don'ts, but Ten Promises for a better life?
These questions were asked by a young Seventh-day Adventist by the name of Grant Steinweg, who wrote the following on his Facebook page: "God never asks us to obey without giving us access to the power to do so. And this power doesn't reside inherently in human nature but comes from outside our proud hearts. The power is in the word of God itself. It is the same word that said, 'Let there be light' and there was light, and said, 'Let Us make mankind in Our image,' and the human race was born. In the same way that God creates, He also redeems. Thus, the very law that to some may seem a burden or obligation contains within it the very power to heal and to restore." Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_H86GzPuOI
What Does Happiness Look Like?
The Bible assures us of the source of happiness: Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” (Psalm 144:15 NKJV), and it’s true: those who make God first and last and best, are the happiest people in the world. However, can we remain happy even when we experience setbacks, trials, or discouragement? Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01q2hD-H0Nw
E vide che era buono, molto buono.
Versetto introduttivo: Genesi 1:31 La comunità di Genova ha dedicato la giornata di sabato 15 Maggio all'AISA, Associazione Italiana Scout Avventista. Meditazione a cura di: Marco Rodriguez Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNFv2HEi4XE
SdS Alleanza 29 maggio 2021
Introduzione alla lezione lezione della Scuola del Sabato numero 9 – II trimestre – Progetto Alleanza Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQuyZYBh0qE
Friday: Further Thought ~ Covenant Sign
Further Thought:
Read Ellen G. White, pages 968-970, in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7; “The Observance of the Sabbath,” pages 349-351, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6; “From the Red Sea to Sinai,” pages 295-297, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
The Ten Commandments define comprehensively and fundamentally the divine-human and human-human relationships.
Image @ Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
The commandment at the center of the Decalogue is the Sabbath commandment. It identifies the Lord of the Sabbath in a special way and indicates His sphere of authority and ownership. Note these two aspects: 1. the identity of the Deity: Yahweh (LORD), who is the Creator (Exodus 20:11, Exodus 31:17), and who thus holds a unique place; 2. the sphere of His ownership and authority — “the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:11; compare Exodus 31:17). In these two aspects, the Sabbath commandment has the characteristics that are typical of seals of international, ancient Near-Eastern treaty documents. These seals are typically in the center of the treaty documents and also contain 1. the identity of deity (usually a pagan god) and 2. the sphere of ownership and authority (usually a limited geographical area).
“The sanctification of the Spirit signalizes the difference between those who have the seal of God and those who keep a spurious rest day.
When the test comes, it will be clearly shown what the mark of the beast is. It is the keeping of Sunday …
God has designated the seventh day as His Sabbath [Exodus 31:13, Exodus 31:17-16 quoted].
Thus the distinction is drawn between the loyal and the disloyal. Those who desire to have the seal of God in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.” — Ellen G. White, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, pages 980, 981.
Discussion Questions:
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Summary:
The Sabbath is a covenant sign that reaches forward to the time when the plan of salvation will be consummated. It points back to Creation and, as a sign of the covenant of grace, it points us to the final re-creation, when God makes all things new.
Amen!
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