Monday, May 18, 2009

Weekly Memory Verse

It's time for our Weekly Memory Verse!!

Remember, last week's verse was an easy one to memorize:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy....Exodus 20:8 (NASB)

This is actually one of the Ten Commandments--right there with idolatry, murder, adultery, taking the Lord's name in vain.

And so, as I committed this verse to memory, I know that I do not keep the Sabbath day as God intends me to.

The Sabbath Day--God created the Sabbath Day when He created the universe:

By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done....Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV)

God rested on the seventh day. And why did God rest? Was He tired? That was a lot of work creating the entire universe. I certainly could understand if He were tired.

No, because God does not become weary.


God created the Sabbath day of rest for His creation--us. We are simple human beings, and yes, we do become tired and weary.

So, we are back to the original commandment: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Our Sabbath day of rest doesn't necessarily mean Sunday as the seventh day. Some of us have jobs that require us to work on Sunday. What God is saying here is that ONE day a week--ONE day out of the SEVEN that He created, we are to cease our labors, rest, keep this day holy in His Name.

I can honestly say that sometimes I use my Sabbath day of rest as a catch up day--trying to accomplish all the things that I haven't done through the other six. But, this is not the way God wants this. It is so important that He made a commandment regarding this.

How about you? Are you able to follow this commandment easily? Can you just rest on your Sabbath day, keep it holy and consecrated to the Lord?

Oh, I thought this was an easy verse to remember, and it is. But, this verse has also opened my eyes to yet another area where I am falling short. I realize that I need to work on resting!

We'll move on to the next week of the Embracing The Word cards--Week 16 which is the Jack of Diamonds:

And He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.".....Matthew 22:37-39 (NASB)

Remember, you can memorize the verse in any version you are comfortable with--or look at several version to grasp the full meaning.

The important thing is to remember the verse, where it is located in the Bible and its meaning for easy recall--for yourself or others.

We're again using Mr. Linky--so if you are participating, please link up!!




Beth



8 comments:

Beth in NC said...

Hi Beth,

I shared on my post how Sunday's have been my busiest day over the years. God has really been convicting me about RESTING on the Sabbath, and I haven't conquered it yet.

I look forward to meditating on this week's scripture.

Love!
Beth

Gina said...

Thanks for the post and I am committed to joining with you. God is awesome all the time and we need to celebrate his word more.

Peggy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Peggy said...

Blessings Beth...Glad to see you posted Weekly Memory Verse. My WFW last week kinda had some of my reflection on this, at least on REST! Than my focus was REST!

Yes, I do REST & celebrate the LORD's DAY. It is the best day of my week. NO TV since Sat. til Sun.
and it's ALL HIS TIME with me except for what I must do. Though I would like to do shopping, get gas, etc. I really try not to on Sunday anymore, because those services are available and my doing that makes others have to work. Believe it or not, many places are closed here on Sunday. Praise God!

I'm always thankful truthfully that some places are open in case I don't have food, water or basic staples to make it.
What would I do without delivery food...which someone has to work for me to indulge? My responsibility lies with me to spend that time purposed on being with God, as you stated so well.

I guess God was not thinking of one day when all churches would gather to worship Him set aside
to draw together as one body as being remembering to keep the Sabbath holy. There has been much debate on when the Sabbath actually is so that's why I think you are right in that part. But God may prefer that we not take jobs that call for us to work on Sun. and be set apart. Hmmmmmmmmmmm
Much to think about in one small verse. So how do we keep it holy?

Remembering the LORD...easy!
Remembering this verse...easy!
Remembering to be holy...not so easy!
Remembering to REST! easier said than done...even when I'm resting, can my focus be just on God...and
do I really REST!

Praying that you had a restful weekend retreat before you have to return to the burden & thorn in your life until God removes you or it and finds a place of REST, peace, comfort & provision for your every need according to His will.

Resting in HIM!
Love ya' & glad you're back.
Peggy

May 18, 2009 3:11 PM

Denise said...

Great post.

HisFireFly said...

Praying rest over you, around you and within you, and that His peace will cover every detail of your life.

Rachel said...

A verse that altered my view on this topic is Ezekiel 20:12 "Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them." Along with story of the man who was stoned to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath. Numbers 15:32-36 Why such severe punishment for not physically resting? Because it was pointing to a deeper spiritual rest.

Yes we all need rest and our lives have gotten out of balance in this area in this modern world. But I think God is speaking of and eternal rest - Christ is our Sabbath Rest - no longer do we have to work or earn our righteousness by the letter of the law and in fact we can't earn it though many of us try by doing all the right things. It is a battle and temptation we all fight. Honoring the Sabbath to me is not striving for my righteousness but completely trusting Christ's. And if you try to earn it then you forfeit the grace given in Christ - which makes since why the guy was killed for the little effort he gave. Romans 4:4 “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.”

Rachel
www.stirringthedeep.com

Beth in NC said...

Are you ok? I never saw you last week.