The Large Catechism – part 91
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 16:13–14
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
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From the Confessions: The Large Catechism, The Ten Commandments
The Third Commandment
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
In order to grasp a simple Christian meaning of what God requires in this commandment, note that we keep holy days not for the sake of intelligent and scholarly Christians. They have no need of them. We observe them, firstly, for bodily reasons and needs. Nature teaches and obliges the working people, who have been attending to their work and trades the week long, should rest for a day and be refreshed.
Pulling It Together: Take a break. Find respite from the hubbub every day, if you can. It is a great way to honor the First Commandment, to put the Lord first in your day. But certainly take a break on the Lord’s Day. Get yourself to worship. Do not go to the lake to rest. That is not enough rest; furthermore, it puts recreation above God. You are not a nature worshiper. Do not go off to a child’s sporting event instead of worship; that puts your child before God. Yet, if you do find yourself away from where you are normally in the Lord’s house where others hear the Word and worship together, then find a way to worship anyway. Find a way to hear the Word of the Lord. In doing so, you sanctify to yourself the day of rest.
Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to honor your day. Amen.
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Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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