Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Third Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 78-86.
The basics:
- Thou shalt sanctify the holy day. [Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.]
- In the Old Testament God appointed the seventh day as a day of rest. This law was given as a rest from toilsome work, but the Jews' overreaching adherence to this led to their inability to accept Jesus' healings and other works on the Sabbath.
- The meaning of the commandment is not in the total absence of work but the sanctifying of the day by keeping it holy. This should rightly be done everyday, but the Sabbath is set apart for the divine service.
- When holidays [rest] are observed, they should be devoted to hearing God's Word.
- Resting should not be so strictly interpreted as to forbid other incidental work that cannot be avoided.
My thoughts today:
From Paragraph 85 -
"...we also should continue the same, in order that everything be done in harmonious order, and no one create disorder by unnecessary innovation."
Don't we create a lot of disorder in the name of innovation? God on the other hand only creates order. The disorder and chaos and confusion in our lives is our own sinful doing. Everything God creates and commands is ordered - the days and nights, the Sabbath, marriage, bearing children, and the list goes on.
We just seem to go and disorder it all up in the name of newness and tolerance and happiness.
Our God is one of order. Our divine services, our relationships, and our lives should reflect His order, not our whims.
