Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 21:1-11.

““Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them:

2 “If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. 3 If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.

7 “If a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she is not to go free as the male slaves do. 8 If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people because of his unfairness to her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. 10 If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights. 11 If he will not do these three things for her, then she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.” Exodus 21:1-11.

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We just finished the Ten Commandments which are more general. We now move to Ordinances which are specific applications of justice and mercy.

Laws (including ordinances) are needed in every age. These specific ordinances in today’s Scripture seem strange to us, not knowing the customs of that time, and these ordinances are impractical to us, with very different practices in our time. But, we should appreciate the specific application of justice and mercy in the construction of laws (including ordinances).

In every age, wise legislators on the national and state level and wise administrators in the local level should strive to incorporate justice and mercy into their specific laws and policies. They should not be carried away by special powerful interests or by mob demand. They should ask with every law or policy that they are considering: “How can we best establish justice and mercy?”

We look to our Heavenly Father and what He does.

“He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18

“He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:5

“The strength of the King loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.” Psalm 99:4

And so, we too should hate evil, love good, and establish justice.

“Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” Amos 5:15

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:22-26.

“22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23 You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. 24 You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it. 26 And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’” Exodus 20:22-26.

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There are many who think that by building steps (so to speak) they can ascend to heaven and bring down Christ to us. But, we are dependent on God coming to us and blessing us.

“For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:5-10.

There are many who think that by the steps of their alleged free-will works that they can (so to speak) ascend into heaven and bring Christ down to them (in other words, obtain and deserve their own salvation). But, we are dependent on God coming to us and blessing us.

“For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16.

There are many who think that by the steps of their wisdom and their will that they can (so to speak) ascend into heaven and bring Christ down to them (in other words, obtain and deserve their own salvation). “but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-31.

Today’s Scripture teaches: “I will come to you and bless you.”

Reformed Doctrine teaches that God comes to us and blesses us by “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Reformed Doctrine teaches that God comes to us and blesses us by “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Reformed Doctrine teaches that God comes to us and blesses us by “Irresistable Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Reformed Doctrine teaches that God comes to us and blesses us by “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:18-21.

“All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.” So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.” Exodus 20:18-21.

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.” Psalm 111:10

“4 Tremble, and do not sin;

Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And trust in the Lord.” Psalm 4:4-5.

We notice in these three Scriptures that there is not only the fear of the Lord, there are indications of obedience, hope, praise, and trust in the Lord.

First, in today’s Scripture, we see that despite the awesome and fearful thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, and the voice of God commanding, although all feared God (so that they may not sin), in addition we read that “Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.” So, likewise, although we fear God and are thus motivated to not sin, we also go to church today to approach God. We know that we are sinful people, but we still hope that God will be gracious to us.

Second, in the above Psalm 111:10, although we fear the Lord and thus have good understanding to do His commandments, we also praise the Lord.

Third, in the above Psalm 4:4-5, although we tremble and do not sin, we also offer “the sacrifices of righteousness, And trust in the Lord.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:17.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17.

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Here is what the Westminster Larger Catechism states about this tenth commandment: “You shall not covet”.

Question 147: What are the duties required in the tenth commandment?

Answer: The duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our own condition, and such a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our neighbor, as that all our inward motions and affections touching him, tend unto, and further all that good which is his.

Question 148: What are the sins forbidden in the tenth commandment?

Answer: The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate; envying and grieving at the good of our neighbor, together with all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.

We are at the end of the ten commandments, the end of the Law, and the end of the school year (so to speak). We have arrived at Christ (The Perfect Ending).

The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ. Galatians 3:24. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Romans 10:4. We were made to die to the Law and be joined to Christ that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4.

The Law has made us realize how sinful that we are and that we need a Savior. But, the Law made nothing perfect.

“(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:19

“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.” Hebrews 10:1

“What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.” Romans 7:7-8.

We are no longer under the Law. We were made to die to the Law. We are now in Christ: The Perfect Ending.

“But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor (the Law). For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:25-26.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.” Romans 7:4-6.

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4.

“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2:19-21.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. …” Ephesians 1:7-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:16.

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16.

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Here is what the Heidelberg Catechism states about the ninth commandment:

Question 112. What is required in the ninth commandment?

Answer. That I bear false witness against no man, nor falsify any man’s words; that I be no backbiter, nor slanderer; that I do not judge, nor join in condemning any man rashly, or unheard; but that I avoid all sorts of lies and deceit, as the proper works of the devil, unless I would bring down upon me the heavy wrath of God; likewise, that in judgment and all other dealings I love the truth, speak it uprightly and confess it; also that I defend and promote, as much as I am able, the honor and good character of my neighbor.

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:8-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:15.

“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15.

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It is Christmas day. “Surely, I can take a break today from writing this daily devotion.“, I thought. Generally, I love and thrive on writing these daily devotions, but the thought did occur to me this morning. I was bothered by that thought.

Then, I decided to write and thought: “Shouldn’t there be a cheerful Christmas message?”

I dismissed that thought and focused:  “No, the eight commandment is next.”

So, I read what the Heidelberg Catechism states about this eight commandment: “You shall not steal.” The last phrase (that I put in bold, italic highlight) popped out at me like a light on a Christmas tree, and I knew that the theme of this devotion was important for this Christmas day.

Question 110. What doth God forbid in the eighth commandment?

Answer. God forbids not only those thefts, and robberies, which are punishable by the magistrate; but he comprehends under the name of theft all wicked tricks and devices, whereby we design to appropriate to ourselves the goods which belong to our neighbor: whether it be by force, or under the appearance of right, as by unjust weights, ells, measures, fraudulent merchandise, false coins, usury, or by any other way forbidden by God; as also all covetousness, all abuse and waste of his gifts.

Question 111. But what doth God require in this commandment?

Answer. That I promote the advantage of my neighbor in every instance I can or may; and deal with him as I desire to be dealt with by others: further also that I faithfully labor, so that I may be able to relieve the needy.

Now, I am not stating that we need to labor on this Christmas day in the same way that we do every other day. But, I am stating that we should not abuse and waste God’s gifts, even on Christmas day.

Furthermore, there may be someone out there (my neighbor) who has extra time today, this Christmas day, to read this devotion and wants a “fresh” devotion and will gain advantage from it.

Today, even on this Christmas day, God may tug at your heart to use a gift that He has given you to help someone. Therefore, let us promote the advantage of our neighbor in every instance that we can or may. And, by the way, this eighth commandment, through God’s grace, turned out to be a cheerful Christmas message, because we discovered today that we delight to do God’s will every day, even on Christmas day.

“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:14.

“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14.

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Here is what Jesus teaches us in part about what God requires about this seventh commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28.

Here is what the Heidelberg Catechism summarizes in part about this seventh commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.”

Question 109. Doth God forbid in this commandment, only adultery, and such like gross sins?

Answer. Since both our body and soul are temples of the Holy Ghost, he commands us to preserve them pure and holy: therefore he forbids all unchaste actions, gestures, words, thoughts, desires, and whatever can entice men thereto.

Whether it be this commandment or another commandment, there comes a time when we realize that even if we know everything about what to do and what not to do regarding these commandments, and even if we try harder, even our best, we cannot perfectly keep these commandments. This is a good time to pause and consider that the Law leads us not to our own self-righteousness, but to Christ and the righteousness that is in Christ.

Question 115. Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?

Answer. First, that all our lifetime we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin, and righteousness in Christ; likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us, in a life to come. Heidelberg Catechism.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24.

“and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,” Philippians 3:9.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:13.

“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13.

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Here is what Jesus teaches us in part about what God requires about this sixth commandment: “You shall not murder.”

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.” Matthew 5:21-26.

Here is what the Heidelberg Catechism summarizes in part about this sixth commandment: “You shall not murder.”

Question 105. What doth God require in the sixth commandment?

Answer. That neither in thoughts, nor words, nor gestures, much less in deeds, I dishonor, hate, wound, or kill my neighbor, by myself or by another; but that I lay aside all desire of revenge: also, that I hurt not myself, nor willfully expose myself to any danger. Wherefore also the magistrate is armed with the sword, to prevent murder.

Question 106. But this commandment seems only to speak of murder?

Answer. In forbidding murder, God teaches us, that he abhors the causes thereof, such as envy, hatred, anger, and desire of revenge; and that he accounts all these as murder.

Question 107. But is it enough that we do not kill any man in the manner mentioned above?

Answer. No: for when God forbids envy, hatred, and anger, he commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves; to show patience, peace, meekness, mercy, and all kindness, towards him, and prevent his hurt as much as in us lies; and that we do good, even to our enemies.

Here is what the Westminster Larger Catechism summarizes in part about this sixth commandment: “You shall not murder.”

Question 135: What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?

Answer: The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defense thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreations; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild and courteous speeches and behavior; forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.

Question 136: What are the sins forbidden in the sixth commandment?

Answer: The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in case of public justice, lawful war, or necessary defense; the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life; sinful anger, hatred, envy, desire of revenge; all excessive passions, distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor, and recreations; provoking words, oppression, quarreling, striking, wounding, and: Whatsoever else tends to the destruction of the life of any.

In conclusion, we know much of what is written above. But, what I thought was particularly enlightening are the instructions in the Westminster Larger Catechism (highlighted above in bold, italic font). The duties include: “a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreations” and that the sins forbidden include “all excessive passions, distracting cares; immoderate use of meat, drink, labor, and recreations”. As Christians, we tend to do a better job of restraining our violent deeds and hateful emotions towards others than we do taking good care of ourselves. May these instructions inspire us to do a better job of taking good care of ourselves (and others).

But, there is also help in addition to these instructions and inspiration!

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:16-24.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:12.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” Exodus 20:12.

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Question 104. What doth God require in the fifth commandment?

Answer. That I show all honor, love and fidelity, to my father and mother, and all in authority over me, and submit myself to their good instruction and correction, with due obedience; and also patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities, since it pleases God to govern us by their hand. Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 133: What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment, the more to enforce it?

Answer: The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in these words, That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives thee, is an express promise of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good, to all such as keep this commandment. Westminster Larger Catechism.

Ephesians 6:1-9 provides a good summary.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Ephesians 6:1-9.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:8-11. Today, I am leaving for a 7 day cruise vacation. My next devotion, God willing, will be on Sunday, December 22, 2013.

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11.

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Much can be said about how we should keep the Sabbath. I will only mention three things.

1. First thing is “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him”.

Here is what the Heidelberg Catechism states about this fourth commandment.

Question 103. What doth God require in the fourth commandment?

Answer. First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained; and that I, especially on the sabbath, that is, on the day of rest, diligently frequent the church of God, to hear his word, to use the sacraments, publicly to call upon the Lord, and contribute to the relief of the poor, as becomes a christian. Secondly, that all the days of my life I cease from my evil works, and yield myself to the Lord, to work by his Holy Spirit in me: and thus begin in this life the eternal sabbath.

This second point is very important. Many think that they keep the Sabbath just by not working their regular job and by going to church. However, they are still working hard by trying to prove their own self-righteousness. They don’t trust the finished work of Christ, but they continue to work to try to supplement it by their own works or alleged free-will. “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11.

Rest in the Christian life comes through complete acceptance and reliance on what God has done for us and will do for us.

“Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; …” Psalm 37:7.

“Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.” Psalm 116:7.

We live in a world in which it is hard to rest. “Just do it!”: urges the world. Even in church, the emphasis many times is what we should do rather than what God has done.

In Romans 10:2-4, Paul bears witness to Israel “that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Jesus wanted to gather the children of Jerusalem under His wings, but they were unwilling. See Matthew 23:37.

Are we willing to enter His rest? Are we willing to believe that righteousness comes from God on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ? Or, are we seeking to establish our own righteousness based on our own works? See Philippians 3:4-9.

2. Second thing is use your power and influence as family leaders and employers to allow and lead those in your care to keep the Sabbath.

Here is what the Westminster Larger Catechism states in part about this fourth commandment.

Question 118: Why is the charge of keeping the sabbath more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors?

Answer: The charge of keeping the sabbath is more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors, because they are bound not only to keep it themselves, but to see that it be observed by all those that are under their charge; and because they are prone ofttimes to hinder them by employments of their own.

We also tend to forget or minimize this consideration that we as family leaders and employers have power and influence over others and that we need to use our power and influence to allow and lead those in our care to keep the sabbath.

One of the things we can do is remind our family on Friday (and Saturday) that the focus of the weekend should be on Sunday and that we should prepare for it.

3. Consider specific good habits that will help you prevent “worldly businesses” coming between you and the keeping of the Sabbath and the focus on the LORD.

This is more from the Westminster Larger Catechism about this fourth commandment.

Question 121: Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?

Answer: The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it, and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments, and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion; and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, for that there is less light of nature for it, and yet it restrains our natural liberty in things at other times lawful; that it comes but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it; and that Satan with his instruments much labor to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.

Yes, there are so many “worldly businesses come between us” and keeping the sabbath as we should. If I asked each of you the readers some of the things that you (or don’t do) to remember the Sabbath, I would learn a lot about what has helped you that could help me. Your good habits of keeping the Sabbath are not legalistic, but your good habits have become a joy and a peace and a rest to you.

One of the things that I do not do on the Sabbath is read the news nor watch the news on TV (which tends to upset me at worst and distract me at best). I have learned that if I do so, “worldly businesses come between” me and keeping the sabbath as I should.

Again, I do not want to be legalistic and impose my specific habit as mandatory. But, I intend this example to stimulate the readers’ thinking as to some things he or she can do to take a break from “worldly businesses”.