Exodus 20:8-11 (NIV)
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it, you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Devotional:
Sunday, often referred to as the Lord’s Day, holds a special place in the hearts of Christians around the world. It is a day set apart for worship, reflection, and rest—a day when we remember and honor the Sabbath, as commanded in the Ten Commandments. But why is Sunday considered the Lord’s Day?
The significance of Sunday as the Lord’s Day can be traced back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, we find that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, which we now call Sunday. This event is central to the Christian faith, for it demonstrates Christ’s victory over sin and death, and it inaugurates a new era of hope and redemption for all believers.
In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was observed on the seventh day, commemorating God’s rest after creating the world in six days. However, with the resurrection of Jesus, a transformative shift occurred. Christians began to gather on the first day of the week, Sunday, to celebrate the risen Lord and to remember His sacrifice on the cross. This practice gradually became the norm in the early Christian communities.
So, why Sunday? Sunday became the day of Christian worship because it represents a new creation, a new beginning. It marks the day when God’s redemptive work reached its climax in the resurrection of Jesus. As believers, we are part of this new creation in Christ, and Sunday serves as a weekly reminder of our hope in Him.
Sunday is a day of rest and renewal. It is a day when we set aside our work and worldly concerns to focus on our relationship with God. Just as God rested on the seventh day after creating the world, we rest on the first day to remember the new creation brought about by Christ’s resurrection. It is a day to draw near to God through prayer, worship, and the study of His Word.
Moreover, Sunday is a day for believers to gather as a community of faith. The early Christians met on the first day of the week to break bread, pray, and encourage one another (Acts 20:7). This communal worship strengthens our bonds as the body of Christ and reminds us that we are not alone in our faith journey.
In conclusion, Sunday is the Lord’s Day because it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is at the heart of the Christian faith. It symbolizes a new beginning, a new creation, and a new covenant with God. As we observe the Lord’s Day each week, may we find rest, renewal, and a deepening of our relationship with the risen Savior who has given us hope and eternal life.