Nehemiah 13:19 “It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day.”

NOT JUST ANOTHER DAY

I am not going to argue about whether the Sabbath is Saturday or Sunday. At the time of Nehemiah the Sabbath was from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. The vast majority of Christians recognize Sunday as the day of worship. Enough said about that.

The reason I chose this verse was more about how we treat our Holy Day. I am not a Legalist. I don’t have a problem with people who have to work on Sundays. Society has changed since I was a boy in Pelham, GA. I remember on Sundays every store in town was closed. There was a “Blue Law” which required businesses to close that day. Our downtown was a literal ghost town on Sundays, except for church traffic. This allowed everyone a chance to rest and recognize that this day was different.

TEACHING MOMENT

We do need to teach our children that every day is holy to the Lord. However, there is a day we choose to meet with fellow believers to worship. Your day may be Saturday or Sunday, but whatever day it is, make it special. Set aside some time that day to gather with other believers. The Word tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We need fellowship with other believers.

Your children will learn the joy and peace that comes from worshipping together as they watch you doing the same. Explain to them why you are going to church this Sunday. There will come a time when they will have to choose on their own whether church is important to them. But while they are with you in your home they need to know how important it is to be there.

Let God lead you this week as you seek to serve Him. He gets pleasure in seeing His children worship Him.