October 5, 2025 -- Exodus 20:8-11 -- What's up with Sunday? Why is it important?

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“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:8-11 ESV

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together…
Acts 20:7 ESV

Why do Christians meet on Sundays instead of Saturday, as was the Old Testament practice?
In the Old Testament, the seventh day was the day of rest. It was the Sabbath and God blessed it. The New Testament records that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, on Sunday. He is what all the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to; His resurrection changed everything. The Old Testament Sabbath and rest informs the New Testament Sunday celebrations.
The Heidelberg Catechism, written in the mid 1500’s to explain the Christian faith to Christians. It was approved by a church gathering, called a synod, in 1563. Included in today’s devotion is the question and the answer which explains the fourth commandment, the one concerning the Sabbath.
 
Q. What is God’s will for you in the fourth commandment?
A. First,
that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained,1
and that, especially on the festive day of rest,
I diligently attend the assembly of God’s people2
to learn what God’s Word teaches,3
to participate in the sacraments,4
to pray to God publicly,5
and to bring Christian offerings for the poor.6
Second,
that every day of my life
I rest from my evil ways,
let the Lord work in me through his Spirit,
and so begin in this life
the eternal Sabbath.7
1 Deut. 6:4-9, 20-25; 1 Cor. 9:13-14; 2 Tim. 2:2; 3:13-17; Tit. 1:5
2 Deut. 12:5-12; Ps. 40:9-10; 68:26; Acts 2:42-47; Heb. 10:23-25
3 Rom. 10:14-17; 1 Cor. 14:31-32; 1 Tim. 4:13
4 1 Cor. 11:23-25
5 Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:1
6 Ps. 50:14; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8 & 9
7 Isa. 66:23; Heb. 4:9-11
 
You’ll notice that what we are to do on the first day of the week, on Sunday, is based on the teaching of the bible (when you have some time, I encourage your to look up all bible references which are included.)
 
So, get together with the people of God. Bring your tithes and offerings to God for the support of the church and the care of the poor and the instruction in Gospel ministry. Rest from evil. Ask the Spirit of God to work in you today, and through-out the week. Anticipate the wonderful, eternal Sabbath, when we, together with all God’s people past, present and future, will rejoice in the glorious presence of God Who is the LORD of Hosts.
 
Our Father in heaven, thank You for appointing a day of the week on which Your people can delight in You as we gather for public worship; reflect on all the blessings and benefits You have poured out on us through Jesus Christ. Thank You, glorious Father, for the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can rest from evil. By the same Spirit we can understand the Word and know we are being guarded now for eternity in Your glorious presence; oh, what a blessed thought to know there, in eternity sin and death are no more. Each Sunday, stir in us a greater anticipation of the glories yet to be, when we shall be all You intend for us in eternity, and we shall be able to love You fully even as we there finally understand how fully we have always been loved by You, our Father, the Source of all Good. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/mYToc2YNyio?si=fAffmUBrrttzTJEh O Day of Rest and Gladness
 
 

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