To me, it was the letter of the Law that brought the strictness and bondage to the Sabbath and it was religious man who made it a ritualistic burden because of the letter.
God created the day holy, which means it's special to God and should be to His people. The Sabbath is a time of celebration and fellowship. In Christ we are set free from the letter of the Law to celebrate the Sabbath for what it was intended for, a memorial of creation. It's a holy day so set it aside and celebrate as you would a happy day.
Nehemiah 8:10 He said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The day was never changed to another day but the keeping of the letter was. Make the Sabbath day special and a joy, not ritualistic and legalistic. Do what you want to make the day special and do what you need if the details of life prevent you from celebrating the Sabbath this week. We are not to judge anyone in what they do on the holy and ordained days of God.
Remember what Jesus taught us...Matthew 12:12..."it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Thank you for your kind reply and may the,
"none is good, but GOD", the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, bless you with HIS kindness and peace.
Yes, i remember by the Help of the HOLY SPIRIT, Matthew 12;12 and thank you again. dearly beloved. By comparing what JESUS said, also remember to witness in the same Gospels, what was actually JESUS doing on that day and why was HE in opposition with the religious Pharisees, even in HIS teachings, witnessing and practicing on that same very day of rest, weekend after weekends, that also caused furious anger among the leaders of Israel, Some of them were also religious teachers for Israel's holiness, who already learned, and follow themselves and stand by to all of them, the whole Law of Moses strictly, even in the matter of Sabbath, all of their devoted religious lives?
So, please let me by the help of the HOLY SPIRIT, encourage you on one Holy Scripture, of JESUS's reply to the Pharisees, who questioned HIM, and accused HIM for wrong doing and also in influencing and teaching others to do the same (who believe HE is the MESSIAH), on that same Holy day of rest, initially given by GOD through Moses for Israel. In one part of HIS defense, in order to justify HE is the MESSIAH, 'LORD of/over the Sabbath' and the New Testament/Covenant, HE replied like this, by opposing their forefather's traditions and doctrine of men and practices, and saying;
"My FATHER is always working and I too must work."
So, if you dearly beloved, believe that we must all do Good on that day, then start doing as according to the Holy Scripture, as JESUS did in the Gospels, for our witnessing and believe and spiritual knowledge faith, that is by first liberating all those in this world, who are still living in poverty, to honor that very same Holy day called Sabbath.
Our true rest and day of rest, is in the FATHER's place of rest with HIM, in Heaven and they also justify why JESUS said this in the Gospel that;
"Foxes have dens and birds have nests but the SON of man have no place to rest." (during HIS ministry for the Kingdom of GOD, here on earth, only work, work. work, in order to save and restore the lost)
So, we can witness together that, confession of the carnal, babes in CHRIST, conflicts with those who are gifted Spiritually matured and justifying the New Covenant sayings.
i hope this justification help us all as one family, not to confuse each other and put burden on, GOD'S lambs and sheep, who are liberated in CHRIST.
As JESUS also say to those who disagree HIM that;
"You cannot put new wine into an old vine bag skin because that old vine bag skin, will only swell and burst open and the new wine will be lost. New wine should be only put in a new vine bag skin."
People who remain stubborn in the Old sayings, cannot receive the New and they will be conflicting against them. They have to become born new in the HOLY SPIRIT and forsake carnal daily, in order to be able to receive the New and remain intact together and witnessing.
Strictly, in the name of LORD JESUS CHRIST, no one must further pass any judgement on such people, for they have been already straighten, by the LORD's words, in HIS reply, in correction and for them to be encouraged and further be built up, from now on, in the New Testament.