Blessed Day

Recently I've been studying about the Sabbath and the blessing that God has in store for those who keep it. I've always loved the Sabbath - and I love it for many different reasons. To have the special communion with my Creator, to enjoy sweet fellowship with other dedicated Christians, to praise God through music, and to worship at His house - this is all wonderful! But what makes the Sabbath even more meaningful, is to realize that God blessed it.

"For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Webster's diction defines "hallowed" as "made holy or sacred; honored as holy" and "blessed" as "holy; sacred; consecrated." It is fascinating to realize that the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, contains a blessing that no other day has.

When God blesses something, it is blessed always. "For thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever." (1 Chronicles 17:27) And His blessing cannot be reversed by man, for as Balaam said, "Behold, I have receieved a commandment to bless: and He [the Lord] hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it." (Numbers 23:20) God's blessing on the Sabbath will be lasting, and He also blesses those who keep it "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." (Isaiah 58:14)

I wouldn't be who I am today without the Sabbath. I ponder what life would be like without it. I thank God for such a wonderful day where I can take a break from the week. Truly, "A world without a Sabbath...would be like a man without a smile, like a summer without flowers, and like a homestead without a garden. It is the most joyous day of the whole week." - Henry Ward Beecher.

The Wonder of Redeeming Love

"In this life we can only begin to understand the wonderful theme of redemption. With our finite comprehension we may consider most earnestly the shame and the glory, the life and the death, the justice and the mercy, that meet in the cross; yet with the utmost stretch of our mental powers we fail to grasp its full significance. The length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of redeeming love are but dimly comprehended." (Great Controversy pg.651)

Years ago I struggled with feelings of emptiness. I searched for something that was not there, and struggled to feel accepted by God. At times I would experience happiness, but it wasn't lasting and I found myself confused when didn't understand what was happening. God's love was before me, but I needed to allow it to work in my heart. The Lord loved me -as a vile sinner - but if I didn't accept His love into my heart, it would do me no good.

Oh the wonders of redeeming love! No wonder we can't comprehend it; no wonder we can't understand it. Countless times we hurt our Redeemer by slipping into sin, but He ever loves us no matter what we do. His love calls us to be better people, to turn from sin, and to pursue truth. This love is unlike anything that I have ever known before.