THE NINE COMMANDMENTS (and The One Suggestion)

There are nine commandments...right?


Sometimes I live as though that's the case.  Honor thy father and mother?  Absolutely.  Do not murder? Um, check. 

But "Keep the Sabbath"...what's that?

Church and laundry and tutoring preparations and vacuuming and cooking and grocery shopping--this is how I spend my Sundays.  Doubt I'm alone in that, either.


I very rarely honor the Sabbath.  I hardly ever carve out a day of rest.  Do you?


And yet it is one of the commands of God that is to be honored and obeyed as much as the others.  Look at the owners of Chick-fil-A:  The Cathy family decided in the beginning that they would close every Sunday in honor of the Sabbath.  They've been told how much money they could be making if they would only operate 7 days a week like everyone else--but they haven't taken the bait.  Let it cost what it may, they have chosen to take a day of rest for themselves and their employees.  


I'm posting this early on in the week because there are things I can do all week in preparation for and protection of the Sabbath.  Putting in a bit more time in tutoring prep throughout the week.  Meal planning for the weekend.  Doing an extra load or two of laundry so it's done and back in drawers before Sunday.  


What needs to happen Monday through Saturday in order for Sunday to be a day consecrated and set apart for the LORD?  Do you struggle with keeping the Sabbath?


I'm just thinking that if God set this command alongside the ones He did, it's probably worth our attention--and obedience.

After all--they're not called "The Nine Commandments And One Suggestion."

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.  On it you shall not do any work...for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day.  Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:8-11