Welcome, wishing you a fine day! Let's continue with the Ten Commandments, this time the fourth, regarding a weekly Sabbath rest day from work. Then we may consider some thoughts from 1John 2.

Let’s start with Exodus 20:8 “8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it sacred.”

A SABBATH DAY. God goes on to explain this Fourth Commandment, the way He did the second command against bowing to carved images, spending about the same amount of time, more than the other eight commandments. But let’s focus on the opening words. We were to “remember” the Sabbath day—not to forget about it—to keep it “sacred,” or to recognize it as a “holy” day, or “holiday.” The original Sabbath day was Saturday. Tradition has it that a superior “Christian” sabbath came to be on the “eighth” day, Sunday the original first day of the week, so that in time both days became recognized as times off from most work. Thus most came to have a five-day workweek, still practiced in many places throughout the world. Thus the Sabbath is at least partially being recognized, but is it being kept “sacred?” Let’s read God’s further explanatory words regarding this day:

Exodus 20:9-11 “9 You are to labor and do all your work for six days, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to Jehovah your God. You must not do any work, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your slave man nor your slave girl nor your domestic animal nor your foreign resident who is inside your settlements. 11 For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and he began to rest on the seventh day. That is why Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day and made it sacred.”

A DAY WITH MEANING. So there was to be a day, the Sabbath, on which no “work” was to be done. This was to be a day of what God calls "rest," for both physical and spiritual refreshment! Now the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, particularly the Pharisees, went to extremes with regulating what was and wasn’t considered “work” on the Sabbath day, and tried to accuse Jesus of violating the Sabbath for doing things such as healing a man’s hand! (Matth 12:9-14). Certainly precious people may need a doctor’s attention occasionally, even on a Sabbath day. So reasonably, some doctors might choose to be “on call” that day, as Jesus stated that it was not wrong to "do a good deed on the Sabbath." While performing such activity would likely have it's rewards, hopefully he or she would also be free enough regularly to be otherwise spiritually edified on that day. Certainly Christians can recognize the principle of the Sabbath day, keeping spiritual things a priority in our life—not letting them fade into the background. We should thus not let financial, material, or mundane concerns of life weigh us down, but have faith in Jehovah and His son to support us as we seek the interests of God’s kingdom first in life, along with pursuit of God’s “righteousness” or the keeping of integrity to God. As Jesus said at Matthew 6:33, “33 “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and [God's] righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.” So yes, we may have financial and material concerns, but let’s keep them in their proper place.

A REAL SABBATH DAY. If Scriptural evidence is clear, however, that God still expects humankind to acknowledge and heed the Ten Commandments, alone being carved by His finger on stone tablets, and the only laws on record to have been spoken in the hearing of humans by God from heaven, then should as many as possibly can choose to recognize the real Sabbath day, and hold it “sacred,” which God may now reasonably allow to be Sunday, having been the final day of the weekend before the next workweek, and already considered by many to be a day of rest and spiritual refreshment? (Exodus 20:1,22). These laws on stone tablets are reasonably distinct from those in "the handwritten document" that was put aside at Christ's impalement. (Colos 2:14). At least Paul and James reference commands from the Ten, and not in the past tense. Ephesians 6:2, for instance, says regarding the fifth commandment, "“Honor your father and your mother” IS the first command with a promise." (see also James 2:10-12). The Sabbath law would thus be included. Wishing to honor such a law of God, we may on a Sunday set aside some time for relaxation with our family and/or friends, and perhaps give some attention to spiritual matters, perhaps reading something beneficial and of interest to us and our family spiritually. Have you found a place among the tribes of Christianity where God's word is read or discussed, and you and your family may be spiritually refreshed? Aim not to give attention to business matters on this day, or spend undue time in the kitchen or in other absorbing work tasks if at all possible. Prepare some things ahead of time, Saturday evening perhaps, so that time may be freed up for our family on the day considered our Sabbath. Certainly God’s blessing would be upon it! In fact, it is conceivable that if the Sabbath is still in effect by God, farmers might be experiencing a near double crop once every seven years, in the sixth year, as the seventh Sabbath year the ground was to rest, and no planting was to be done. (Levit 25:4). The abundant harvest was to provide amply for this year and the next, so that there would be no need for planting the Sabbath year. The ground would be allowed to rest. God would also bless the heeding of this Sabbath law as well.

GOD'S REASONABLENESS. Still, while requiring obedience of His faithful servants, Jehovah God has often proved Himself to be reasonable and understanding, as even Christians are commanded to “let your reasonableness become known to all men—the Lord is near.” (Phili 4:5). Jesus said “For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matth 12:8). In this regard, there may be other businesses that God may reasonably designate to be open on a Sabbath day, such as some restaurants, where many enjoy fellowship before or after meetings for worship, or grocery or convenience stores with gas stations for travellers or those in need of something for a family meal. Let us trust God's reasonable and loving direction in such matters. Try to make time for some spiritual refreshment, even if you are being commanded to work on the Sabbath. With the varying schedules that many are required to work, perhaps you could choose another day soon before or after the Sabbath, to give more complete attention to spiritual matters. One day we may hope, perhaps even before God's Kingdom is ruling completely, even faithful employers may be more willing to trust God's direction fully in this matter. Do we not want God's blessing on all our activities?

GOD'S BLESSING, REWARD. Therefore may we aim to recognize the principle of the Sabbath day of rest, being restored and refreshed physically and spiritually, to continue happily keeping God first and supporting our family and loved ones in every way. It may be a sacrifice to support such an arrangement, especially a real Sabbath day on Sunday, but recall that Proverbs 10:22 states "It is the blessing of Jehovah that makes one rich, And He adds no pain with it." With God's blessing on those putting forth the effort to do so, having faith, or deep trust, in God and His law, we may find many, perhaps even unexpected, rewards. Hebrews 11:6 says "Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." By ignoring what is really the law of God, we could miss out on God's blessing and help. Psalm 127:1-2 thus reminds us: "Unless Jehovah builds the house, It is in vain that its builders work hard on it. Unless Jehovah guards the city, It is in vain that the guard stays awake. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early, That you stay up late, That you toil for your food, Since he provides for his loved ones while giving them sleep." Let us thus trust in Jehovah fully, reaping rich rewards!

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1John 2:1-4 has much to say. We read: "My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one. 2 And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s. 3 And by this we realize that we have come to know him, namely, if we continue observing his commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet does not observe his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in this person."

So we need to learn obedience as we come to trust the guidance of God and Christ. Our merciful Father is loving as we maintain determination to keep His commandments. The sacrifice of Christ can cover errors. We should always be aiming for the "target" of God's laws and standards, and hope in the ransom to cover our occasional "misses." May we maintain our hold on truth, and not fall to believing that obedience is somehow unnecessary. We receive salvation as a gift from God based on our faith in God and Christ, and in the ransom sacrifice to cover sins, while we strive to obey God and Christ, realizing that this leads to peaceful relations among others, ultimately to a peaceful new world, a literal and spiritual Paradise as God originally purposed.

1John 2:9-11 contains real import for those claiming to be "in the light." Would not ones truly so be loving their fellow brothers and sisters, refusing to allow hatred to grow in their hearts? We should be quick to seek peace among fellow believers, walking in the light. True love "does not become provoked," nor does it "keep account of the injury." (1Cori 13:5). And, as Christ taught, we should be loving those not yet believing, and even those opposing us! Jesus said: "“You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous."

Perhaps in this context, we may more fully comprehend John's own words: "The one who says that he is in the light and yet hates his brother is still in the darkness.10 The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and is walking in the darkness, and he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." Such ones need to restore their appreciation and love for God, desirous of pleasing Him, putting Him first in their life, as the Giver of "life and breath and all things." (Acts 17:25). Then repent of their error, trusting in God's merciful compassion and love for them.As well they need to prove willing to forgive what others may have done to them, as they request forgiveness for their own "debts." (Matth 6:12,14-15). They might then begin to walk in the light, with loving obedience to God growing from a heart of appreciation for Him. (1John 5:3). May we delight in the light from God, enabling us to see and serve Him amongst genuine peace-lovers into eternity!