Sunday is for God? Part 2

So what are the advantages of seeing Sunday as not just the only day for God? That sounds like an easy one, we think about God every day. The truth is that we need to think about God everyday, I need to think about God every minute!  The writer of Hebrews, whom we’ll assume for this post is Paul the apostle, connects the idea of the “rest,” to the Sabbath rest, to the 7th day of creation when God rested as well as the general idea of coming to a point of cessation of work.  This is how most people view the reason for believing Sunday is for God, a day of rest and think about God.

Paul also compares the early church to the Israelites who were brought out of Egypt by God’s wonderful and miraculous and God-proving ways.  Within a short amount of time the Israelites started whinning, wanted to go back, and were pretty disobedient.  The early church had seemed to forget the great thing Jesus had just done and were now living in sin’s deception, being disobedient and ultimately living with an “unbelieving heart that forsakes God.”

To battle all that, Paul admonishes us to remember that God has given us “today” and we have not yet entered into God’s rest (whether that means heaven or just a place in time when we can sit back and enjoy without consequences). The truth is that we all need other people around us everyday encouraging us to stay on focus because the work is not yet done.  We need this everyday spurring on or we begin to further love and pursue sin. The challenge for us is not to be deceived by the pleasure of sin that it causes us to have an unbelieving heart that turns us away from the living God, a heart that forsakes God.  Don’t think it can’t or isn’t happening.

I’m certainly not saying we don’t rest from our work or take a full day of resting and reflecting, but I think we’d find ourselves in a better obedient and connecting relationship with God if we learned to find rest in God and in the community of fellow believers spurring us on everyday.

Psalm 4:2-8 “For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David. When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer! You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah) Realize that the LORD shows his faithful follower special favor; the LORD responds when I cry out to him. Tremble with fear and do not sin! Do some soul-searching as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah) Offer the prescribed sacrifices and trust in the LORD! Many say, “Who can show us anything good?” Smile upon us, LORD! You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine. I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, LORD, make me safe and secure.“