Sabbath: The Covenant and the Blueprint
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 30th of August 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Exodus 24:1-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Leviticus 10:1-2; Ezekiel 36:26-28; Exodus 25:1-9; Exodus 31:1-18.
Memory Text:
“So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the Lord has said we will do’ ” (Exodus 24:3, NKJV).
As their God, Creator, and Redeemer, the Lord desired to be with His people and to dwell in their midst. He created us to be in close fellowship with Him. Yet, if meaningful relationships with other people can be built only with time and effort, the same is true with our vertical relationship with God. It can be an uplifting and growth-filled experience, but only if we spend time with Him. In practical terms, this means studying His Word (God speaking to us), praying (opening our hearts to God), and witnessing to others about Christ’s death, resurrection, and return (engaging in God’s mission). As God blesses us, we will be a channel of blessings to others.
The focus should be on God, not on ourselves (Hebrews 12:1-2). By our connecting with Him, God can empower us to follow His teachings, which means obedience to His Word. No wonder the end-time generation of Christ’s followers are described as people “who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12, NKJV).
It’s simple, really: we love God, and, out of that love, we obey Him.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 6.
(17)
Nowadays, labels are bought and sold on the market, and often the current product bears little resemblance to the original product. For instance, the MG car marque used to belong to a car manufacturer in England who made quirky little sports cars that made driving a bit capricious and a lot of fun. The label was sold to a Chinese company that makes a consumer range of cars, and the only thing they have in common with the original MGs is that they have 4 wheels on the road. (I know all this because my initials are MGA and I have a number plate that begins with MGA - but that is another story)
"Christian" is a label that gets traded on the market to anyone who thinks they can make social capital, or a buck or two, out of it. You want to sell an idea in a "Christian" country, wear the Christian label. There is no "truth in advertising" that says the user of the label is a genuine Christian.
When it comes to tyres-on-the-road, though, the Christian label wears thin or falls off. The genuine relationship Christian keeps on going even under the most perverse circumstances.
The Hebrews, during the Exodus, were new to this label idea. They got the label at Sinai and it fell off many times. The big takeaway for us from this is that historical labelling is not a generational guarantee. If you want to be a Christian, then ask and receive a heart change. It's free but it comes at a cost (just like falling in love). And it remains even if the label falls off.
[Speaking of labels: Some commenters use the label SDA in their comments. Among ourselves, we know what this means, but quite a few of our readers are not used to our acronyms and some may even be amused by it. In Australia, SDA refers to the Shop Assistants and Warehouse Workers Union (I have no idea why it's called the SDA union). It's a bit challenging to read the headline, "The SDA strikes again". That usually means that delivery of toilet paper to the local supermarkets has been held up, rather than the Adventists are running a hard-hitting evangelistic program. So, please, refer to our church as "Adventist" or "Seventh-day Adventist".]
God bless you and this message. Hehe! ...and that last part on "SDA" is well understood. Thank you again
SDA as in the union actually means Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association.
Just like a builder meticulously follows an architectural manual to produce a master structure, God also desires to have a people who reflect His character, will, and purpose. God is inviting all mankind into a special relationship, and He has provided a roadmap to Himself. Without clear divine instructions, we can easily become lost in a world where many counterfeit gods compete for our souls. It is out of pure love that God has provided a covenantal blueprint to make us a treasured possession.
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine” – Exodus 19:5, NKJV.
True, I can't agree with words more than this, and what a great introduction of the week; with clearly simple take aways. Ezra 7:10 shows this spirit in Ezra - Study it; Practice it; Teach it with passion.
I am praying that week triggers you all and I to the culture and commitment to God with a passion.
When we focus on Jesus, He is seen in our actions and not ourselves. Developing a meaningful relationship with Jesus helps us to meet with him regularly and constantly be in contact with Him. We also start reflecting his attributes, as an old Guyanese adage or proverb says, "show me your friends and I will tell you who you are." When we are friends with Jesus, we reflect his traits and characteristics, and the closer we will be drawn to God.
So love comes before obedience? Or through obedience, we learn to love more? Love is the ever-winner.