Does God require Sabbath-keeping of Christians?

I will begin this blog with Colossians 2:16-17. It says, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." Romans 14:5 is similar in spirit. The verse says, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers everyday alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his mind." Theses Scriptures make it clear that, for the Christian, Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God. Sabbath-keeping is a an issue on which God's Word instructs us not to judge each other. Sabbath-keeping is a matter about which each Christian needs to be fully convinced in their mind.

In the early chapters of the book of Acts, the first Christians were mostly Jews. When the Gentiles began to receive Jesus as deliverance, the Jewish Christians had a dilemma. What aspects of the Mosaic Law and Jewish tradition should Gentile Christians be instructed to obey? The apostles met and discussed the issue in the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). Acts 15:19-20 says, "It is my judgement, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to Go. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood." Sabbath-keeping was not one of the commands the apostles felt was needed to force on Gentile believers. It is inconceivable that the apostles would neglect to include Sabbath-keeping if it was God's command for Christians to observe the Sabbath day.

A common error in the Sabbath-keeping debate is the concept that the Sabbath was the day of worship. The Seventh Day Adventists believe that God requires the church service to be on Saturday, the Sabbath day. That is not what the Sabbath command was. The Sabbath command was to do no work on the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8-11). Yes, Jews in Old Testament, New Testament and modern times use Saturday as the day of worship, but that is not the essence of the Sabbath command. In the book of Acts, whenever a meeting is said to be on the Sabbath , it was a meeting of Jews and/or Gentiles converts  to Judaism, not Christians.

You may have a question. When did the early believers meet? Acts 2:46-47 says, "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who being saved." If there was a day that Christians met regularly, it was the first day of the week (our Sunday), not the Sabbath day (our Saturday) (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). In honor of Christ's resurrection on Sunday, the early church observed Sunday not as the "Christian Sabbath" but as a day to especially worship Jesus Christ.

Is there anything wrong with worshiping on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath? No! We should worship God every day, not just on Saturday or Sunday! Many churches will have service on both days. There is freedom in Christ (Romans 8:21; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 6:1). Should a believer practice Sabbath-keeping, that is, not working on Saturdays? If a believer feels led to do so, yes (Romans 14:5). However, those who choose to practice Sabbath-keeping should not judge those who do not keep the Sabbath (Colossians 2:16), Further, those who do not keep the Sabbath should avoid being a stumbling block (1 Corinthians 8:9) to those who do keep the Sabbath, Galatians 5:13-15 says, "You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."

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Death will happen

We live in a world that acts that death is an option. If we have the right diet and workout plan, then we will live forever. People are afraid of death. If there was a shot to prevent death, millions of people would take it. This is my introduction to Genesis 35:19-20.

My last blog on the book of Genesis was title, "Life Is Difficult." I wrote that Rachel died while giving birth; therefore, life is hard. Rachel gave birth to Benjamin. Mankind view point of death could be like Rachel. She named the son, "Ben-Oni", which means Son Of My Trouble. Does death bother you, so that you can't go to funerals? I have knew a few people that are that scared of death.

Rachel gave birth to her son and she died. Jacob had to mourn because his wife died but he needed to keep living life. Jacob keep on moving and buried his wife in Ephrath  (nowadays called Bethlehem).Life still occurs when a loved one dies. I know that people will mourn differently. Jacob kept on living life, however, he was tearful. 

I could image Jacob crying and talking to his loved ones about honoring Rachel while being strong. I have the same approach to death. I give honor to my dead friends and family by keeping on moving forward.  Jacob had God in the center of his life, I have God in the center of my life. If a person has the forever picture, the person will see death has no sting. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 says:

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Jacob looked forward for the Messiah. He knew that the Messiah was the Redeemer. Hebrews 11:39-40 says:

"These were all commended for their faith , yet none of them received what had been promised, since God planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

I will get back with the life journey of Jacob. Now, Jacob will bury his wife in Ephrath. He had a period of great mourning, again, we need to embrace that point. God will bring healing when we do this. Everyone does it differently. Genesis 35:20 says,

"Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, to this day that pillar marks Rachels tomb."

People may die but the memories of them will not. It is true that we will be all forgotten but our loved ones will remember us. If I pass on, most people will forget about me, but my close friends will still cherish me.

I will get even deeper. I said the world will forget you. When your close friends and family die, your memory will be forgotten. There is Someone that will not forgot about you. His name is Jesus. It is interesting that Rachel was buried in Bethlehem. Jesus has always been around but He came as a man on this earth to redeemed mankind. He was born in Bethlehem, where Rachel was buried. I will go back to 1 Corinthians 15:55-57. Death has no power of over the true believers in Jesus. Have you embraced the power that has conquered death? Merry Christmas and may you embrace Jesus, forever. 

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWfgj9RMUeM&feature=youtu.be

My boss got mad at me

I will be open with my personal life. I assume that we all have jobs because you don't have a billion dollars. For many, it is a needed evil in life. I am not rich so I work everyday.

I have been working for Johnstone Supply for five years. There are four branches in the Northwest division of the company. There are locations in Bothell, Everett, Tukwila and Seattle.  I worked in the Seattle locations for three and half years. The Tukwila branch was growing and lacked warehouse workers. 

I was a part-time warehouse worker that did some sales. I was not great at the forklift when I was in the Seattle branch. The manager in Seattle was forced to send me down to the Tukwila as a loaner. It exposed my weakness. I did well enough to get transferred to Tukwila but was not perfect.

I got in some accidents with the forklift and was not the most accurate worker. I did my best but was not fully trained in Seattle. It was getting to my boss and co-workers in Tukwila so they were angry at me.

The manager got enough of my lack of training in the forklift and in other areas of my job. He challenged me to improve. I had a chance to not listen to him but I heard his words. I went to my co-workers for help. I was open to be better at my job. Many people would hate the boss, I thought my boss did the right action.

Proverbs 29:1 says, "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed-without remedy." I don't want not be teachable; therefore, I listen to people. The world is full of prideful people, so I ask the Lord to help me not to be prideful. I have been giving some props but the glory belongs to God.

This was uncomfortable for me to wrote about this event, but I wanted to farther the gospel. Get to know God and the Bible are needed in life.

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh40kWUoC8Y&list=PLgf_eOslPblEyzRYvw-YkuA3dhL-C900I&index=17

 

Life is difficult

It didn't took long for me to realize that life is difficult. A person should never expect that everything will go well. I am surprised when life doesn't give me an curve ball.

Jacob's life was not perfect. He moved place to place and had issues. He just moved to Bethel and his wife was going to give birth. Genesis 35:16-17 says, "Then they moved to Bethel. While they were some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, "Don't despair, for you have another son."

In the Jewish culture at that time, wealth was number of kids an couple had. It was an great honor to have an son. Childbirth has never been easy and during Rachel's day, many women died giving birth.

I will never give birth to an child, but child birth is like life. Life can be painful. 

Issues came up and the pain is great. We need to rely on Jesus during the painful times.

Genesis 35:18 says, "As she breathed her last- for she was dying- she named her son Ben-Oni."

If you are curious what Ben-One means, it means son of my trouble in Hebrew.

God never wanted women to have pain giving birth but since Adam sinned, they will have child birth pains. Genesis 3:16 says, "To the woman he said, "I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children."

The good news is that modern medicine has helped childbearing greatly. Women don't die much anymore and kids are healthy. Rachel lived in times when it was dangerous to give birth to children.

Sin causes pain and troubles. Sin will cause death.

Genesis 35:18 says, "But his father named him Benjamin." Benjamin in Hebrew means son of my right hand. In the Jewish culture, the right hand is identified as an special place of honor. Jacob viewed his son as an great blessing. 

We have an father in heaven that want us to be born again. We have sinned and death is our default position. Jesus came to this world to redeemed mankind. He did on the cross and arose from the dead.

If we repent from our sins and follow Him. We will have the Holy Spirit live in us.

John 5:24 says, "Very truly  I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."

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What is success?

I will drive deep into this topic. Life is uncertain and it drains me. On Thursday, I was weak so I needed to rely on Philippians 4:10. The verse says, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Life can knock me out so I need Jesus.

We can't have life without plans. It is hard to figure out the next step. I do an simple first step. Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." God has given me much wisdom.

We all need wisdom to survive in this world. People look to YouTube and books for guidance. I go to an book which helps me greatly. 2 Kings 2:3 says, "And observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulation, as it is written in the law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go."

God has given us talents. We must be faithful to honor him. Success is honoring God.

People want to do great movements but are you faithful in the little details in life?

Luke 16:10-11 says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much and, whoever is dishonest with very little will be dishonest with very much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who can trust with great riches."

We must work hard in life and give honor to Jesus.

Action requires faith and our faith can waver. We must walk down the roads of life. Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed , for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand."

Jeremiah 17:7 says, "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him."

I see many people that claim that they are self-made. This is pride that many people will fall into. God has given you abilities and provisions. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today."

I must get the heart of God in my desires. I must align my way with his will. When I do this then I have Psalm 37:4. It says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I see many people are drop-out even if they have college degrees. They are too prideful to admit that they need God. Proverbs 3:1-4 says, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many year and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

We must remain humble and follow the Lord. James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

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Faithful

We like the word faithful. It means that an promise will be fulfilled. We all want an person to be true to their words. I have good news for you.

I am not impressed with many people. Most people are flaky so I don't expect much from mankind.
There is an Being that I have fallen love with. This being is called God.

I see God's faithfulness in the topic of Israel. God promised Abraham that an great nation will be from him. If you read Genesis 17:1-8, then you will see God promise to Abraham.

Genesis 35:11-12 says, "And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you."
These verses in intense. This event climaxes the Isaac-Jacob cycle. Now that Jacob was at last back at Bethel, where God had begun his direct relationship with him, God confirmed to this chosen son of Isaac the covenant promises made to Abraham. His words echo his original benediction pronounced on man in the beginning (Genesis 1:28) and renewed after the flood (Genesis 9:1, 9:7).
God's blessing on mankind would be fulfilled in and through Jacob and his offspring (Genesis 47:27 and Exodus 1:7).

Genesis 35:13-15 says, Then God went up from him at the place he had talked with him. Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel."
God had an nice talk with Jacob.  A person can either pretend that it didn't take place or honor the Lord.
Jacob wanted God, so he honored God. He gave his soul to the Lord. If you are curious what Bethel means, it means house of God. Jacob's body was an example of an house of God.

I can relate to Jacob. Jesus came to me and I responded. The best move in life is to follow Jesus.

Do we allow fear to make events worst?

I have wondered an question many times in my head. I think about how fear can make events worst than there are. Ask yourself this question, "Is my fear making this current event worst in my life?"

I don't like to answer this question because the answer is yes. I have seen epidemics turn into pandemics because of fear. I have done this and you have done this. You need to confess this sin, also.

How do we conquer this topic of fear? I am not the brightest person that was ever born. I know the One that made me in my mother's womb. I will go to Him.

I will talk to you about four Bible verses. The first verse will be Deuteronomy 31:8. This verse says, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." When you see this verse, what are your thoughts?

I  will examine this verse and pondered about the current event of the Coronavirus. Many people think that this virus will kill everyone and every job. I think that a person needs some wisdom in this life but their fear can makes an issue bigger than it is.

God is with me and you. He wants us to rely on Him. If we call on Him, He will take away fear and encourage us. If you feel that Coronavirus makes you scared, have you been calling out to the Lord?
He will give you wisdom during this trial that everyone is facing.

The next verse if Isaiah 43:1. It says, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by you by name; you are mine." The context of of this verse is about Israel and that he will redeem Israel. I am not Jewish but God is merciful so He will accept non-Jews, too. He died on the cross and arose from the dead. Anyone that repents from their sins and follow Jesus. The person will know God.

I will get back to Isaiah 43:1. God will bring trials in our lives to show that we are weak and in need of repentance. If we rely on our strength then we will fail. I see many people failing. It means that we need to make Jesus our Lord and Savior. May the world want to get redeemed to Jesus.

The next verse is 1 John 4:18. It says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to deal with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in life.
This powerful of love is deep. I will break it down.

Love in an relationship should bring peace and security. An person in an loving relationship should be able to the other person without fear. I will go in a deep hurt in my life that causes people to reject God.

My father was  an jerk and abusive in his own ways. This caused me to view marriage as an jerk that is abusive towards the wife. God has taught me that marriage that was between my mom and dad was not proper. I don't know the future and anything is possible. I will say something crazy, I could be married in the future. If that happens may I show Christ to the world with how I treat my wife.

Marriage is an earthly representation of Christ and the church. Christ laid down His life for the Church. An husband needs to sacrifice his life for his wife. Christ died an painful death on the cross. And He conquered death.

When Jesus died on the cross, He put every sin there. If we sin, He is faithful to forgive. During this time, may we all get right with God. Are you living in sin, repent.

I will do the fourth Bible verse. Psalm 18:2 says, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and deliverer."
I can relate to this verse. I keep living the same way everyday. People are going in crazy mode but I am calm.

People are afraid of being sick. I am careful but I know that God is watching over me. I do not fear and God is guiding me.  I am relying not on my thoughts but God's thought. The water of worries coming in talk of the virus and joblessness. I am standing on Jesus and crying in my peaceful heart.
The wind is blowing hard, the Holy Spirit is making me secure because He is my deliverer.

May this help you. Have an great day. Don't know the future. Here is my prayer.

Lord, I trust in You. Here are my hands. Take or add what You think is needed. You know better than me.  Amen

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