Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day, XXI:8

This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are taken up, the whole time, in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.

In a day when men have grown accustomed either to think of each day as being exactly like another, or in this culture considering the weekend "my" time, the concept described here is exceptionally foreign to us. Rationalizations and excuses abound even among those who acknowledge the validity of setting aside one day in seven for the worship and service of God.

How to keep the Sabbath holy:

1. Start with preparation of the heart. Do not approach the day begrudgingly, out of a sense of burdensome obligation. Think on it with joy, anticipating the priviliges and delights of fellowship with God and his people and the opportunity to spend dedicated time hearing, reading, and discussing his word.

2. Take care of mundane business ahead of time. Try to get your work done during the work week so that you have time on Saturday to attend to all the other things that need doing, leaving Sunday free for its divinely-ordained purposes.

3. On Sunday, rest. Rest from all your own works, words, and thoughts about your worldly employment and recreations. Leave the cares of this world behind and look ahead to a glimpse of what eternity will bring. Start preparing for the life to come. Invest, in other words, in your future.

4. Occupy the whole time on Sunday in the worship of God, both publically as in the assembly of the saints, and privately at home with family and self, and in the accomplishment of such works of mercy and necessity as befits a servant of God, remembering how our Lord used the Sabbath for doing good. Such is not to be undertaken legalistically or with a sense of obtaining merit, but out of due gratitude and thanksgiving to the God who made us and saved us.

For most of us, such a reordering of priorities and mindsets will be revolutionary. Unbelieving family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers (and especially bosses) will not understand and will harbor bemusement, scorn, or ridicule, and sometimes threats.

Tomorrow: Summarizing the Confession on worship.