The Ten Commandments. God’s Instruction Manual for LifeSample

A day of rest

The fourth commandment is a hard one to apply to our own lives. This commandment is stressed over and over in the Old Testament, but not in the New Testament. In other words, it was very important before Jesus Christ completed his ministry of salvation, but seems to have lost or changed meaning since then.

God’s rule in itself is clear: the people should set the last day of the week (the Sabbath) apart as a day of rest. This gave them the chance to relax, to recover from their work and to celebrate God’s faithfulness and provision.

The apostle Paul explains that the Sabbath was like a shadow that showed what was coming. The “real thing” is found in Jesus Christ (see Colossians 2:16-17). He gives us rest for our souls! The Sabbath law is fulfilled in Jesus. It is good to enjoy the rest God gives us and to take time to focus on Him instead of on our daily chores and troubles. Most Christians worldwide do so especially on Sunday.

Have you found rest for your soul?