Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today is the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10), a day that Christ has set aside where we can find spiritual rest in anticipation of the heavenly rest that awaits us (Heb. 4). We have lost something of the joy of this day and Sabbath-keeping, so to speak, is (sadly) viewed not as a delight but as a burden. The Sabbath is, however, a delight (Isa. 58:13), but only to those who desire to honour the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, his commands are not burdensome (1 Jn. 5:3).

The story of Eric Liddell is a favourite of mine. He ran for Scotland at the Olympics and won a gold medal. Initially, he was supposed to run the 100 meter race but the race fell on a Sunday and, because Liddell wanted to honour the Lord, he did not run. However, he ended up winning a race that he never intended to run in the first place, the 400 meter event. Before he won the 400 meter race – even setting a world record – he was slipped a piece of paper by an American with the words: “Those who honour me I will honour” (1 Sam. 2:30).
Indeed.

Liddell isn’t the only Scotsman to have made such a sacrifice. Scottish newspapers are currently reporting a story of a girl’s soccer team who, against all odds, beat older teams and larger schools all over Scotland and reached the final of the National tournament. However, the final was scheduled to be played on Sunday. Though disappointed, the girls decided not to play in the final because of their convictions that Sunday belongs to the Lord. Many, even in the Church, may scoff at these actions, but I have no doubt that the Lord in heaven is looking down with great pleasure in these young girls who have stronger convictions than most North American ministers!

May we, out of love for Christ – since all we do for the Lord should be fuelled by love – think seriously about the day that Christ has called “the Lord’s day” and what that means for us living in Vancouver in the year 2008.

May the Lord keep you all – always,

Mark

Isaiah 58:13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken.