Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. Ezekiel 20:12.
As the Sabbath was the sign that distinguished Israel when they came out of Egypt to enter the earthly Canaan, so it is the sign that now distinguishes God’s people as they come out from the world to enter the heavenly rest.
The observance of the Sabbath is the means ordained by God of preserving a knowledge of Himself and of distinguishing between His loyal subjects and the transgressors of His law.
It [the Sabbath] belongs to Christ…. Since He made all things, He made the Sabbath. By Him it was set apart as a memorial of the work of creation. It points to Him as both the Creator and the Sanctifier. It declares that He who created all things in heaven and in earth, and by whom all things hold together, is the head of the church, and that by His power we are reconciled to God. For, speaking of Israel, He said, “I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them”—make them holy. Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ’s power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God….
To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace restored through the Saviour. And every object in nature repeats His invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
The Sabbath is a golden clasp that unites God and His people.
The Faith I Live By p. 33
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Larry who is recovering from nose and sinus surgery. Rose
—–Prayers for Goergy who has breathing problem and Grace who is fighting with cancer. Rahel
—–Please pray over my family… I was in a car accident and the guy who hit me lied in court. Judge asked we give him time for ruling… but this guy is at my kids’ school. He lacks morals/ethics… and it is now robbing my sleep. I thank God for everything, just can’t stop stressing… part of me is mad a grown man blames others for what he does. Part of me fears him near my kid on school campus. Beverly
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in Washington state, I was the shortest adult at the church we attended. Often the children would stand beside me to measure how tall they were. Somehow they thought that if they could reach my height, they would be an adult. I was (before old age set in) just barely 5’2″ so I was an easily-reached goal. The day Wesley grew past me, he was very happy. From then on, he would come over and stand by me and gloat over the fact that he was taller than I. It was so funny! To make him all the happier, I would pretend to be shocked and upset that he was taller.
We, too, have a goal to reach but one we should never gloat over. Our Heavenly Father desires that we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 He bids us, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt 5:48 (The word here used for perfect has been translated in various places in the Bible “complete” twice, “mature” four times, “more perfect” once, and “perfect” twelve times.)
Peter gives us the steps we are to follow toward this goal of a lifetime. He says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:4-8 Paul advises “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Rom 12:1-3
Does this mean we are to work our way to Heaven? No! As we look into the perfect law of liberty, we see what we must be, we see how far short of the goal we are. (James 1:25) We cannot attain to the perfection that our Creator desires for us without His help. We are so weak, so sinful, so helpless. Praise God! We have a Saviour Who is standing there waiting to help us. All we need to do is ask. He never forces Himself upon us. He calls, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20, 21 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa 45:22 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb 13:5 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa 41:10
Our Loving Redeemer has prepared the way to holiness. He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” John 14:6 He will help us reach our goal if we will cooperate with Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. . . .My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 1:9-2:6 How much we need His forgiveness! How much we need that cleansing from all our sin!
May we daily meditate upon God’s Holy Word, that we may see His will for us. May we come to Him for that cleansing which He freely offers. May we allow the Holy Spirit to give us the help that we need to reach “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph 4:13
Rose

A Special Sign