Encouragement for Today: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3: 13, NIV)

Today’s Old Testament reading is Exodus 31: 1-18.  I reflect on verses 12-13:

¹² And the Lord said to Moses, ¹³ “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.”

The Lord alone is holy and He alone sanctifies, makes us holy.  By keeping the Sabbath, I do not sanctify me.  By keeping His Sabbaths, the Lord sanctifies us  as through means, the means of grace, His Word and Sacraments. If I could make myself holy by my spiritual works and ways, I would stay home on a Sunday morning.  But by His grace, I know me, I would not so work to be holy!  

There is no ‘spiritual self-help’, as our help is in the Name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.  The Lord sanctifies us by His Word because the Lord knows, I need sanctifying. If I stay home on a Sunday, it is to evade His Word on His Sabbaths. His Law will show me that I am not holy and His Gospel will offer us the Holy One of God:  Jesus Christ in the work of the Holy Spirit so by faith we receive His grace, mercy and peace.  I think the reason people  stay away from His Word is the Old Adam and his lord, Satan, for he knows that the Lord will sanctify and lead in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Such is the Lord’s almighty and gracious will. It’s a pretty simple encouragement:  go to Church.  Hear His Word rightly preached and taught.  Be fed (Matthew 4:4, John 6:51).

“You shall observe the worship day   That Peace may fill your home and pray,  And put aside the work you do, So God may work in you.”   Have mercy, Lord! (‘These are the Holy Ten Commands #581, hymn by Martin Luther, Lutheran Service Book)