Holier Than the Rest

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Deuteronomy 5:12 NLT

Sunday was a tense day because it was holier than the rest.

As a child, the list of things I couldn’t do on Sunday outpaced the list of things I could do. For Dad, most of the rules of the Old Testament Sabbath (Saturday) had been transferred to Sunday.

Thankfully, Mom could cook and clean up the kitchen. But no cleaning the house, washing clothes, working in the yard, shopping, or going to the movies. Some of these don’ts didn’t pose an issue since the only stores open were the drug stores and a few gas stations. And I’m quite sure the theaters weren’t either.

I grew up believing Sunday was holier than all the others because of all the things I couldn’t do.

Observing the Sabbath was one of the Ten Commandments. Over time, religious authorities added their interpretations about how a person did this. By the time Jesus arrived, hundreds of “don’t” rules applied. Jesus had to remind people they weren’t created for the Sabbath, but rather the Sabbath was created for their benefit. 

Early Christians celebrated the first day of the week instead of the Sabbath because Jesus arose on that day. Their observances focused on celebration rather than what they couldn’t do. They fellowshipped, ate, observed the Lord’s Supper, and tended to each other’s needs. It was a day of dos.

Perhaps the original command—and the later celebration of the first day of the week—has less to do with worship than we might imagine. After all, we should worship and reverence God every day. This one day, however, benefits us in more ways than merely worship. God commanded rest on this day. No work. Not even for animals. Observing one day each week reminds us our bodies are not machines. They need rest and rejuvenation.   

Hallowing one day also reminds us we need other people. In the dark days of the early church, believers needed each other. Persecution and opposition were rife. We still need each other. We can watch preaching and singing on television or the internet. But there’s something special about worshiping God with other believers who we can share and empathize with.

God established one day as holier than all the rest. Whether it’s Saturday or Sunday is immaterial. What we do on that day is. Make your one day about the do’s rather than the don’ts.

How can you better observe the true meaning of the Lord’s Day?

Father, thank You for giving me one day when I can worship You collectively and share with each other bountifully. 

Tweetable: How can you make one day each week special? 

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