THE LORD’S DAY

Today is Sunday, which many Christians would prefer calling it “The LORD’s Day.” John Newton, the author of the wonderful hymn, “Amazing Grace” says, “Safely through another week God has brought us on our way; Let us now a blessing seek, waiting in his courts today; Day of all the week the best, emblem of eternal rest: Day of all the week the best, emblem of eternal rest.”

Initially, the early Church had two separate days, Sabbath as the day of rest, and the Resurrection Day or the LORD’s Day. The Bible records in Acts 20:7 the same – “7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” We see similar reference to the LORD’s Day in 1 Cor. 16:2; Rev. 1:10.

The Scripture doesn’t use the word Sunday, a name associated with sun worship. The first mention of Sunday as the day of rest was issued by the Roman emperor Constantine, through an edict in March 321 AD – “On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all the workshops be closed.” (Codex Justinianus 3.12.3)

The purpose of the LORD’s Day is to set aside a day, intentionally and purposefully, by ceasing from all our daily works, and to sing praises to the LORD God Almighty, and to worship Him, with all our heart, mind and soul. The LORD our Redeemer so richly deserves such an act of praise and worship. It is also a day to meditate upon His Word, and be encouraged and strengthened, as we fellowship with fellow believers. May the LORD help us to truly rest and worship our LORD today.