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Preparing For The Holy Day, March 2
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8
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At the very beginning of the fourth commandment the Lord said, “Remember.”
He knew that amid the multitude of cares and perplexities man would be tempted
to excuse himself from meeting the full requirement of the law, or would forget
its sacred importance. Therefore He said: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it
holy.”
All through the week we are to have the Sabbath in mind and be making
preparation to keep it according to the commandment....
When the Sabbath is thus remembered, the temporal will not be allowed to
encroach upon the spiritual. No duty pertaining to the six working days will be
left for the Sabbath. During the week our energies will not be so exhausted in
temporal labor that on the day when the Lord rested and was refreshed we shall
be too weary to engage in His service....
On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all the
clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking is done.... The Sabbath is not to
be given to the repairing of garments, to the cooking of food, to pleasure seeking,
or to any other worldly employment. Before the setting of the sun let all secular
work be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight. Parents, explain your
work and its purpose to your children, and let them share in your preparation to
keep the Sabbath according to the commandment.
There is another work that should receive attention on the preparation day. On
this day all differences between brethren, whether in the family or in the church,
should be put away. Let all bitterness and wrath and malice be expelled from the
soul. In a humble spirit, “confess your faults one to another, and pray one for
another.”
Before the setting of the sun let the members of the family assemble to read
God’s Word, to sing and pray.
We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every
moment is consecrated, holy time.
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