A Sign of Sanctification

“Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them” (Ezekiel 20:12 KJV).

“The law of Ten Commandments, of which the Sabbath forms a part, God gave to His people as a blessing. ‘The Lord commanded us,’ said Moses, ‘to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive.’ Deuteronomy 6:24. And through the psalmist the message was given to Israel, ‘Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.’ Psalm 100:2-4. And of all who keep ‘the Sabbath from polluting it,’ the Lord declares, ‘Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer.’ Isaiah 56:6, 7. . . . DA 288.1

“Since He made all things, He made the Sabbath. By Him it was set apart as a memorial of the work of creation. It points to Him as both the Creator and the Sanctifier. It declares that He who created all things in heaven and in earth, and by whom all things hold together, is the head of the church, and that by His power we are reconciled to God. For, speaking of Israel, He said, ‘I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them,’—make them holy. Ezekiel 20:12. Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ’s power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God. . . . DA 288.2

“And the Lord says, ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; … then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.’ Isaiah 58:13, 14. To all who receive the Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him.” DA 289.1

 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4, KJV)

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the blessed Sabbath day. Bless me to keep it holy as You have commanded. And let it be a sign to those who see and know me that You are sanctifying me. With a grateful heart, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

NOTE: These devotionals began as daily texts to encourage my academy roommate and dear friend of nearly 50 years, until she suddenly passed a few weeks ago (Feb 2023). Now I continue to send them to her daughter in honor of her mom. First, I pray and look for a Bible verse or passage and find a suitable commentary (or vice versa) and add a prayer. If you agree to receive them, then this way I not only honor God but the memory of a very dear friend whom I desperately miss. My personal prayer is that God will bless me to find ways to multiply this blessing from one or two people to an unnumbered multitude. So please feel free to forward to your loved ones or to anyone as God leads you. I’m calling them Barb’s Devotionals.