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More Than Sunday

 


Romans 14:5-6: “In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him.

How to honor the “Sabbath” and what it means to “keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8-11) is being challenged more than ever before. The Church has struggled to provide a “right time” on Sunday morning to conduct worship services. Many Churches are simply losing people to the fact that Sunday has evolved into more like another Saturday.

One of the ways to combat the “Sunday challenge” as a military Chaplain was to visit the Training Office each week to look over the “quarterly events calendar” to plan services and events for the Soldiers at various times throughout the coming three months. Why? Because I already knew that Sunday had become “just another day” and may not be the most suitable time for everyone to attend worship services.

What I quickly learned was that Sunday didn’t have to be the only “sacred” and “holy” day in which to offer services to worship our Heavenly Father. I had learned that many professions had inescapable work commitments on Sunday. I found that many more couldn’t come than didn’t want to come!

That’s when it hit me! It became quite apparent that EVERY single day was holy and an opportunity for worship. We needed to get out of the mindset that 11:00AM, Sunday morning, was NOT the “only time” for worship.

Now, before we go any further: I am not, in any way, supporting or advocating the justification or making excuses for violating Sunday as the actual holy day of Sabbath.

I am not excusing those who mismanage their schedules and have no time for worship on Sunday or Church activities during the week. I am simply saying that every day is holy! Every single day there should be moments set aside to worship and praise God our Father.

As King David wrote in Psalm 29:1-2, “Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength. Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”

Yes, we should exhaust every possibility to gather for worship on the prescribed Holy Day of Sunday. However, the Church should not be negligent to explore opportunities to provide “Sunday worship” for those whose professions and service do not accommodate such times.

If our hearts are radically sold-out to Jesus and our love is passionately agape towards our Heavenly Father, then we can worship him every single day personally as well as corporately as the Church body. Although it is preferred to be on Sunday, we find that every day can be Sunday. Worship your Heavenly Father EVERY day…not just on Sunday!

1 Chronicles 16:23-31:

“Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
    Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
    Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
    He is to be feared above all gods.
The gods of other nations are mere idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens!
Honor and majesty surround him;
    strength and joy fill his dwelling.

O nations of the world, recognize the Lord,

  recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.

Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!

    Bring your offering and come into his presence.

Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.

Let all the earth tremble before him.

   The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!

   Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”


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