Let’s find out how we should prepare and greet the Sabbath day to receive abundant blessings from God.
First, we should prepare for the Sabbath day through the Preparation Day.
The day before the Sabbath is called the Preparation Day meaning to prepare for the Sabbath day. We need to finish our private affairs by the day before the Sabbath, lest we should be hindered from keeping the Sabbath because of worldly things.
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” Jn 4:24
Second, we should be punctual for worship services.
The Sabbath is a day to meet God who is the Ruler of the whole universe. If you have a chance to meet the president of a country in this world, you would be at the place of meeting at least twenty to thirty minutes or even an hour earlier and wait for him. How much more should we keep the appointed time of worship to meet God Almighty who is King of kings! Therefore, we must solemnly observe the time of worship by arriving and preparing in advance.
Third, worship should be kept in a solemn atmosphere with reverence.
The Sabbath worship is the time to pray to God and praise and glorify God in spirit and in truth. Thus, the Sabbath worship must be kept in a solemn atmosphere with reverence. However, sometimes we hear distractions caused by children playing and babies crying during worship services. Then the worshipers will turn their attention to the distractions and feel inconvenience.
I do not mean that you should not bring your children to the church. Jesus, too, loved children so much (Mk 10:14).
Parents should teach their children beforehand, “Church is a place for worshiping God reverently, so you must be quiet during worship.” Although they are little children, if they are instructed by their parents, they will learn how to worship God with reverence.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Ro 10:17
Fourth, the Sabbath is a day to share brotherly love.
The Sabbath is a day for us to meet our brothers and sisters whom we haven’t seen for a week. Don’t we have much to say to one another, because we have not seen one another for six days? We may ask each other about the Bible, talk about many things that have happened during the week, and pray for one another sincerely.
To have such a good relationship with one another, we must keep the following things in mind.
- We should not be proud or boast of ourselves.
- We should be tolerant of others, covering up their faults.
- We should talk about gracious things instead of worthless things.
- We should speak only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
- We should greet one another with a bright smile instead of a gloomy face.
- The leading members of the church should serve their sheep entrusted to them with a true heart, so that they may spend the Sabbath with joy.
- After worship, sometimes we see scraps of papers, books, bags, and waste such as snack wrappers or even fruit peels scattered about in the church. We can all pick up such wastes, then God who sees what is done in secret will bless us for our devotion that comes from deep in our hearts.
The Sabbath is truly a holy day. Observing the Sabbath is the privilege granted only to God’s people. We, God’s children, must greet the Sabbath day with all our heart, mind, and soul.
- Food for Thought
- How should we deal with our private affairs to greet the Sabbath graciously?
- What are the things we should keep in mind to have a good relationship with brothers and sisters?