KEEP THE LORD'S DAY HOLY

 

Next Sunday, Pastor Marshall will be here to preach and lead worship. So, do you ever wonder what I do when I am not here on Sunday? Well, back in February, when I was visiting my brother in California, we had Lord’s Supper at his house. We called to mind and confessed our sins; heard the readings; prayed for other people’s needs; said the words of Jesus over the bread and wine, and took communion.

A few weeks ago, when I was at the Synod Convention, I sat with my wife, and we took communion with everyone else. Ten – twelve times a month, I visit church members in their homes or nursing homes, and lead a Lord’s Supper service for them because they cannot get to church.

I mention all of that because our reading from Isaiah (56:1, 6-8), tells us that everyone who keeps the Lord’s Sabbath or Day of Rest, God will bring to his holy mountain. So, how do you do this? Remember, the Third Commandment is to keep holy the Lord’s Day. What does this mean? It means that we should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.

It means that when we are here, that we sit up straight and pay attention to God’s Word when any pastor, Mr. Hietsch, Miss Linda or I preach it to you. It also means that we should not do any kind of physical work because that can be done on one of the other six days that God gives us. Worship of God means paying attention to the truth that our bodies need rest. On Sunday, we rest in the Lord. We rest in and with the Lord Jesus, His Father and the Holy Spirit.

With that, let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their parents the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.