By: Lanora – Woman to Woman Blog –

Many times, I hear people say some of these statements to excuse them from keeping God’s Sabbath day with brethren. Unfortunately, Live Streaming services and other media have made it too easy to stay at home. Does this sound familiar? Maybe you have heard some of these excuses yourself?

It’s too far to drive.

I wouldn’t darken the door and attend with that group.

I don’t like what they teach.

I don’t like the Pastor.

I’m too tired I can just stay home and watch online.

I have family coming in and I’ll watch the Webcast later.

Granted some are not able to attend due to age, distance, sickness or other health issues. There are times we need to stay at home to quarantine ourselves due to illness so as not to spread it to others. I am not talking about those situations. I am talking about able bodied Christians that could attend but choose not to. They prefer to stay at home in the comfort of their own homes because they think it’s not necessary to attend Sabbath Services. I wonder what God thinks about that!

Let’s be honest sometimes I feel exhausted and would like to stay at home and just watch online myself, but I know it would displease my God. God has called me as a Pastors wife to serve God’s people, and He gives me the energy I need to complete the tasks that He has given me to perform on His Holy Sabbath Day. When I am at services, I find myself uplifted and energized by being around God’s people because they have become my family. Each Sabbath I look forward to being with them. I also can’t disregard God’s Commandment to assemble ourselves on His Holy Sabbath.

Do you find yourself using these excuses to stay home? We should ask ourselves where is the Love for one another? When you stay home you are not showing love for your brother or sister. You could be robbing them of a blessing or possibly yourself.

What does God say about the Sabbath?

God gave us His Sabbath Commandment for our good in Exodus 20:8-11

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

God’s Commandment is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:12-15.

12 ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.

13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

14 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.

15 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore, the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

The Sabbath was made for man and is a day to rest from our labors. It is a great blessing. It is a day to put our focus on God the Father and Jesus Christ. A day to think about all the things our Father and His Son has done for us and what they will do for us in the future. It’s a Holy Day to draw closer to our future King and each other.

Mark 2:27

27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Failing to attend Services

So why do we fail to do what God says other than rebellion or our own human weaknesses?

In the New Testament Christ never failed to assemble for the Sabbath Day. He was perfect and always obeyed His Father and the commandments.

Luke 4:16

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.

So why did God’s Apostles command us to assemble ourselves on the Sabbath day? Here’s what it says in Hebrews 10.

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

It clearly states that we are not to fail to assemble ourselves so as to stir up love and good works! If we are to become like Christ, then we should follow His example of assembling together on the Sabbath Day.

Have you ever thought of it in a way that you could be breaking the Fourth Commandment? You are essentially disobeying God’s Command by failing to assemble yourself with God’s people as it is a Holy Convocation. I know that sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances that prevent us from being there, but we should do our best to attend.

We clearly shouldn’t disobey God and why would you want to. Do you think this pleases Him? Of Course Not! God clearly wants us to assemble together with Brethren of like minds so we can learn about Him, the Kingdom of God and grow in grace and knowledge. Here is something to consider? Could it be that by assembling ourselves together we can share with others our distinct gift’s that He has given to each of us? Therefore, sharing your gift is a blessing to those who receive it. Could you be denying others your special gift? Some Brethren have the gift of hospitality, gift of healing, gift of compassion, gift of hearing, gift of consoling, gift of languages, gift of uplifting or edifying one another, gift of cooking, gift of music, gift of organization and some men have the gift of speaking or teaching. I’m sure there are many more gifts that God has given that aren’t mentioned in this short article as all diversities of gifts come from God but of the same Spirit as it states in I Corinthians 12:4.

I Corinthians 12:4

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

As baptized members we each have a measure of the Holy Spirit of God; we should use it, grow it and nurture it. The gift or gifts He’s chosen to give to each of us individually is to be shared with others and not hidden by staying at home. Not everyone has the same gifts, and some may have multiple gifts. Please think about the gifts God has given you. If you don’t know what they are ask someone who knows you. They would be more than happy to share what they feel are your special gifts.

Think about how your gift or gifts are pleasing to God when you share those gifts on His Sabbath Day. We can Honor God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by keeping the Fourth Commandment, assembling together and share the blessings of the gifts God has given you with others. What better reward could we have than to please our Loving Father and our Savior Jesus Christ by obeying the Fourth Commandment in its fullness!