Message: Embracing the Sabbath as a Gift of Mercy

Message: Embracing the Sabbath as a Gift of Mercy Dear Beloved, Today, let us reflect on the profound gift of the Sabbath—a day intricately woven into the fabric of our faith, a divine exhale in the rhythm of life. The Sabbath was made for man, a sanctuary in time, a promise etched in sacred design. It is not a burden to bear but a gift so grand, cradled in the heart of God's loving hand. In the Gospels, we see Jesus, the Light of the World, walking the dusty streets, His teachings imbued with mercy and grace. He healed on the Sabbath, His every touch a testament to divine compassion. When the synagogue leader, bound by the rigidity of the law, declared, "There are six days for work. Come then to be healed, not on the Sabbath," Jesus responded with a clarity that pierced through tradition. "You hypocrites," He said, "Do you not untie your ox or donkey on the Sabbath, leading it to water? Should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath from what enslaved her?" In His words, the true essence of the Sabbath is revealed—a day not of constraint, but of liberation. A time when love and mercy are given free rein, where healing flows unhindered. The Sabbath was made for you and me, a canvas painted with the hues of divine kindness, reminding us that God's love knows no bounds. Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, stands as the axis around which this sacred day revolves. His every act of healing demonstrates that in Him, the Sabbath's true purpose is fulfilled. It is not man who serves the Sabbath, but the Sabbath that serves man—a vessel of rest and mercy. In the embrace of the Sabbath, we find refuge—a holy pause in the cadence of existence. It is a day where the chains of oppression are shattered, where the weary find rest, and the broken are made whole. In the silence of the seventh day, God's voice calls us to remember, to restore, to renew. The Sabbath is more than a command; it is an invitation to step into the rhythm of God's grace, to be enveloped in His peace. It is a testament to the boundless love of the Creator, a day when heaven touches earth, and the sacred dance of mercy unfolds in our midst. As we honor the Sabbath, let us embrace it as a time for healing, for liberation, and for deep, restorative rest. Let it be a day when we remember that God's love and mercy are limitless, reaching into the very depths of our hearts to bring us peace. In Christ’s love and grace, Pastor Steven G. Lee (June 21, 2024)