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Some people consider the worship of God as a weekend thing simply because we usually go to church on Sundays. Although it is right that we keep our Sabbaths as time for resting in the Lord’s presence in worship, we must understand that the worship of God goes beyond rest days. It is a daily pursuit.
One-day Christ follower
The Lord God Himself said in Exodus 20:8-11, “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”
Some people took that passage to the extreme, devoting six days of the week to work, family and personal pursuits, and only the last day of the week to God. Because of this, most live as nominal Christians during workdays – living like the world from Monday to Saturday, and then becoming a “holy” person on Sundays when their pastor sees them. People living this way simply miss the point.
Jesus’ example
The Lord Jesus, who is known as the fulfilment of the Law of Moses, shocked many who strictly observed the Sabbath rest day by working on that day. In Matthew 12, we read Him healing a sick man on the Sabbath to the Pharisees’ chagrin. He gave them a lesson, and emphasised that a person can do good work on the Sabbath! What does this mean?
Jesus said in verse 7, “But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
Jesus pointed out (to the Pharisees) that what was more important to God was not the mechanical obedience to the Law without the more important matters of the heart. In the same way, today’s Christians can simply go to church and worship on Sundays, but not live God-fearing and God-pleasing lives every single day of the week! This should not be!
Daily pursuit
So what do we do? We must love God and live blameless lives in worship to Him each and every day of our lives. Jesus said that we must “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37)
God is God every day. He reigns and remains sovereign every second, minute and hour from Monday to Sunday. He deserves our worship every day.
