15th March 2024

15th March 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v8-11)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If there is a commandment which our legalistic souls love it is the fourth commandment. We see a brother in Christ using the Lord's day in a manner we do not like and we inwardly condemn him. My friends the Sabbath is not for self-righteousness but the Gospel. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? "The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required, all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them; all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful; and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations."


As we respond to the Gospel with gratitude it is good to do business with our own soul. What does the Lord require? That I won't be lazy on the Lord's day but instead do my duty. It is careless, negligent and unprofitable for me to be absent from worship. It is a sin for my heart to grow tired of the things of God. The Lord once rebuked the priests who had grown bored with the worship of  God (Malachi 1v13) and often we are no different. We yawn our way through worship, we attend once in a blue moon and when we do show up our hearts are hard.


How often do we do needless works on the Lord's day! We are excellent at barely considering Jesus but Liverpool's big match on Sky gets our full attention! Brothers and sisters, if our fellowship lacks passion, if our Christian walk is a chore and if we simply can't be bothered then we must repent.


I will not come to your home to lock up your swing on Sunday morning and I'd urge you not to give attention to what I do or don't do on the Lord's day. Instead, may each of us consider the state of our own soul in relation to the fourth commandment. May the Lord sanctify us and swap our sloth for zeal, our weariness for wonder and our negligence with diligence. The Lord has given us a day to consider the greatness of the Gospel. May we never swap it for something less.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q32 What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them.
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