Let
us now seek to understand the spirit and rationale for ascribing to the Lord
the glory due to His name and how this is accomplished by observing His
Sabbaths. We have been duly instructed saying; “For since the creation of the
world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse” (Romans 1:20).
Let
us take for example the tremendous effort, money, time and sacrifices people
exert in commemorating events such as, D -Day, Labor Day, independence day, creole
day, mother’s day, father’s day and all other national, global and personal
events such as birth days, anniversaries, Christmas day which are all pale in
significance to what the Lord has performed. So the question is what is the
rationale for exerting so much time, energy and resources in the observance of
these worldly and pagan days?
The
logical answer is that these days and events commemorate what may or presumably
took place on that particular day and the celebration is a form of expressing gratitude
and appreciation for what transpired and a means of perpetuating the event for
future generations. This is exactly the rationale for observing the Lord’s
festivals, for example, the Lord's Sabbaths and appointed times which the Lord
has ordained for His people to appear before Him and offer to Him the food for
His offerings it is to show and express gratitude and appreciation to the Lord
for what He did for humanity and these time and occasion consist of the
following:
·
Morning
and Evening
The
Lord instructed Moses saying: “Command the children of Israel, and say to them,
'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you
shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time.' The first appointed
time to offer the Lord the food for His offerings is morning and evening known
as the regular offering. The rationale for the morning and evening offering is
as described by king David who wrote; “It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness
in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” This therefore glorifies
the Lord as our Protector, Provider, Sustainer and Deliverer (Psalms 92:1-2).
·
The
seventh day weekly Sabbath
The
second ordained time to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings is on the
seventh Day weekly Sabbath and this is in commemoration of the creation of the
world, and glorifies the Lord as the Creator. It is also the sign to confirm
when the end of the week is and that the following day is the first day of a
new week. Therefore, it is a perpetual sign to indicate when the end of a week
is and when is the beginning of a new week. By disregarding, rejecting or altering
this basic principle is a major cause for dissensions and confusions allowing
everyone to walk after the imagination of their evil heart and doing what seems
right in their own eyes. It will not be a surprise when sooner than later,
Monday be regarded as the first day of the week instead of Sunday.
·
The
New Moon
According
to the law which governs the universe the New Moon commemorates the beginning
of a new month. Offering the Lord the food for His offerings on the new moon is
a law and practice that will be upheld even when the new heavens and the new
earth will be established, for we have been duly admonished saying: “For as the
new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,"
says the LORD," So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it
shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to
another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD”
(Isaiah 66:22-23).
·
The
Passover and days of Unleavened bread
These
days commemorate man's deliverance from sin and death and gives honor and glory
to the Lord as our Redeemer and Savior.
·
The
Feast of First-fruits/wave sheaf offering,]
This
festival is the Sunday which falls during the seven days of Unleavened bread
and commemorates the ascension of Christ to heaven after His resurrection and
presented Himself to the Father on our behalf and this day gives honor and
glory to Him as the Resurrection and the life.
·
The
Feast of Pentecost,]
This
festival is fifty days after the feast of First fruits and commemorates the
arrival of the Holy Spirit and gives honor and glory to the Lord as our Helper,
Comforter. Teacher and Guide
·
The
Feast of Trumpets
This
festival commemorates the giving of the Great Commission to go and make
disciples of all nations and to "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice
like a trumpet; Tell God’s people their transgression, and the house of Jacob
their sins,” This day gives honor and glory to the Lord as our Conqueror and
Deliverer.
·
The
Day of Atonement
This
day commemorates and acknowledges Jesus Christ as our sin bearer and honors and
glorifies Him as our Advocate, Mediator and High Priest.
·
The
Feast of Tabernacles
This
festival commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, and honors and glorifies Him
as the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
·
The
Eighth Day
This
day commemorates the circumcision of our Lord and the day He received the name
Jesus, the name which is above all other names and honors and glorifies Him as
the Eternal God.
It
is imperative to be reminded at this juncture that the true worship of God is
not out of compulsion, coercion or legalism, but something performed from one’s
own volition as we have been duly admonished saying; “One person esteems one
day above another, another esteems every day alike: Let each be fully convinced
in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who
does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:5-6).
It
is something one does out of love, gratitude and appreciation for what the Lord
did for humanity on that particular day which far exceeds in significance the
worldly and personal anniversaries that we esteem so dearly. And the sad thing
about it is that, there are very few people who know about them, and even those
who know about them are paying little or no respect to them.
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To be continued , stay tuned
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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