Counsels on Church Life

Counsel #2 — Not Just Any Day

Picture: Counsel #2 — Not Just Any Day CCL 49.1

The Bible is clear that the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week.^[76] Most people don’t mind a day of rest! The seventh-day Sabbath becomes problematic because for hundreds of years most Christians have traditionally observed Sunday. Muslims keep Friday. But Saturday worship makes most people uncomfortable. The issue goes beyond convenience—even in Israel only 27% of Israeli Jews observe the Sabbath.^[77] Perhaps the real reason is discomfort with God Himself. Keeping the Sabbath day holy indicates we value our relationship with our Creator as evidenced by our obedience to His command. CCL 49.2

"And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." Genesis 2:2, 3 CCL 49.3

“The Sabbath is [God’s] memorial of the creation of this world in six days and resting upon the seventh day. He hallowed the seventh day. He made it holy for us to observe. Why then is the world going after a false Sabbath? Because the enemy has taken possession of human minds.” Ellen White in Letters and Manuscripts, vol. 21, Manuscript 140, 1906, par. 26 CCL 49.4

Reflect: Are you hesitant to observe the seventh-day Sabbath? Or do you keep it but find it challenging to fully focus on God during that time? CCL 49.5