Dear Followers of Jesus,

Recently here at Fairwood Bible Institute we studied Personal Evangelism.  We watched a DVD series by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron where they presented how to touch the human conscience through questions about keeping the Ten Commandments.  Along with asking the person if they have ever lied, stolen, or used God’s name in vain, Ray shares his own experience of having repeatedly broken the fourth commandment by not keeping the Sabbath holy. It was so refreshing to have him give the fourth commandment equal footing with the others, when so many other evangelical preachers do not.

Then when someone admits with humility that they have not kept the Ten Commandments and will be judged by a holy and just God, then they are given the gospel of how Jesus came to take our penalty on the cross so that we can spend eternity in heaven.

This approach to why we need the gospel quickly clears the air and often avoids arguments.  It also reminded me of how the commandments restore the soul, and clear the mind. (Psalms 19:7 “The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul.”)  They don’t bring us salvation, they just show us our need for Jesus.  Since Ray Comfort is promoting the correct use of the Ten Commandments, he emphasizes over and over that the commandments only take us to the cross. Jesus is the only Savior.

In another part of the presentation this passage was quoted: “Whoever has My commandments and keeps [guards, honors] them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21-22)  As I pondered Jesus’ words, I was freshly reminded that Sabbath keeping, as one of the Ten Commandments, is tied to Jesus’ manifesting Himself to us.  It was like the Holy Spirit was saying, “If you want God and Jesus to be real in your life, honor the Sabbath Day.”

And then a flood of memories came to me where spiritual things through the years have been very real on the Sabbath Day.  Whether it was during Bible School, or when I was in the Coast Guard, or traveling with our family in Norway, as we honored the Sabbath, God’s presence showed up in a special way.  Sometimes even while singing one of the Sabbath songs with words such as, “that brings heaven’s own atmosphere. . .to have our dear Father so near,” I’ve experienced that very thing–God’s presence and love!

Have a wonderful Sabbath where Jesus manifests Himself to you.