Preschool
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
Honoring the Lord’s Day
Memory Verses
Primary
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
Junior
I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
Background Scripture: Matthew 12
Lesson Scripture: Matthew 12:1–14
Introduction
The Lord has graciously provided for our spiritual and physical welfare by giving us a day to lay aside our earthly toils. On the Lord’s Day, we rest from our labors and let Him restore, inspire, and strengthen us. Let us honor our Lord and Savior as we receive His bountiful blessings on this best of all days. May we joyfully accept Jesus’s wonderful invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Key Verse
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath (Mark 2:27).
Lesson Scripture
Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Studying the Lesson
In Genesis we read how God created everything in six days and proclaimed it to be very good. On the seventh day, He rested from His wonderful handiwork. Later, God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites on Mount Sinai. Among these mandatory commandments is the fourth one: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God” (Exod. 20:8–10).
At the time of the lesson scripture, the Pharisees were making the Sabbath commandment very burdensome. They allowed that an animal could be rescued on the Sabbath but did not think Jesus should heal a man’s withered hand. With their emphasis on restraining physical activities, they charged Jesus’s disciples for wrongdoing because they picked corn to eat on the Sabbath. In their legalistic view, they had lost the true meaning of the Sabbath. Pride in the Pharisees’ hearts had caused them to become unreasonable and critical. The original intent of the day of rest was lost when their sacrifices became more important than mercy. “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
The Jewish Sabbath pointed to the rest in Jesus when He, as the supreme sacrifice, would die on the cross for sin. Jesus gives rest to the mind and soul of those who accept His work at Calvary. New Testament Christians no longer labor under a heavy burden of sin, but enjoy the rest they receive in Christ. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Heb. 4:9–10).
According to some historians, after Jesus’s ascension, the Jewish Christians kept the Sabbath as well as worshipping on the first day of the week. Since the Gentile Christians had never kept the law, they observed their holy day on the first day of the week. Eventually, seventh-day worship was discontinued. Examples are given in the New Testament of Christians meeting to worship on the first day of the week. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them” (Acts 20:7). It is significant that Christians in the new dispensation have chosen to keep the day of rest on the first day of the week, the day when Jesus resurrected from the grave.
Practical Truths for Today
“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (1 Chron. 16:29). Let us honor the Lord by giving Him first place in our hearts on the first day of the week. He deserves reverence and adoration for His loving kindness extended to us.
One of the best ways to worship is to attend a worship service. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1). Assembling together is essential for Christians living in the difficult circumstances of our day.
It is important to worship in spirit and in truth. We honor the Lord when we with grateful hearts sing and pray in unison to the only One worthy of our praise. During the service, the warmth of God’s Spirit can be felt as He gives a meaningful message to the minister to deliver to His people. Though we do not visibly see God, He is present to give us what we need. He heals the brokenhearted, delivers the captives, gives sight to the blind, and frees those who are offended. In the Spirit we see Him waiting with His arms outstretched, longing to give His people bountiful blessings of peace and quiet rest. Each Sunday can be a time of renewal, correction, and encouragement to follow His way.
Let us honor the Lord by drawing close to Him in heart and meditate with thoughts that magnify Him. Let us deny thoughts that are self-centered, covetous, or critical. Let us implore His guidance and strength for the coming week. As we leave church, we tend to forget what we have heard, but let us commit to obeying the Holy Spirit’s promptings and be diligent doers of the Word—not hearers only.
Fellowship with other Christians is another benefit in keeping the Lord’s Day. Since we share our devotion to Christ and are united in the same goal of reaching heaven, our fellowship is sweet. We sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus as we rejoice that our sins are forgiven and that there is daily grace to overcome evil. Testimonies and times of sharing give us wisdom and courage. This bond of perfectness, through the love of Jesus, is precious and binds us together. Giving and receiving hospitality are also blessings of the day of rest.
God created us with the need to be renewed. People work all week to earn money to provide for their needs and wants. On the Lord’s Day, we rest and receive bountiful blessings without working. In resting, we gain something far more valuable than physical labor can provide. It is without toil. It is a gift of God.
Many people in the world dishonor the Lord’s Day. Instead of worshipping the Lord, recreation, entertainment, sports, and work are filling the day. Sunday becomes their day to do as they please. The influence of the the world about us, where it is commonplace for people to engage in carnal activities on Sunday, may cause us to become careless in keeping the day holy.
Are we as careful as we should be in making travel or vacation plans? Is it not best to plan so we can be in a worship service with other believers on Sunday? The day of rest gives young Christians opportunities to put their energy into rewarding spiritual exercises, such as singing and visiting with the lonely. Carnal activities rob the Christian of the blessings of inner peace and rest and leave him restless and unfulfilled.
When we appreciate the blessings and benefits the Lord has provided for us on the first day of the week, we will not soon abuse the gospel liberty Christ has given us in keeping it. Honoring the Lord each day of the week keeps the heart right for Sunday. By loving the Lord with our whole heart, the commandments of God are not grievous. Love in our hearts inspires willing obedience. Unworthy hearts will find it a privilege to worship the Lord. Thankful hearts will overflow with ways to hallow the day. Loving hearts will honor and praise the Lord for ordaining this best of all days in His wonderful plan for mankind.
Questions
- What are practical, helpful ways for young families to have a calm, restful Sunday?
- Do our Sunday activities portray how spiritual we are?
- What are ways to follow Christ’s example of doing good on Sunday?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).