Is there a special blessing available to Sabbath keepers that is not available to those who worship on Sunday? This is a question I asked last month and we will continue to find answers in 6 Testimonies and the chapter entitled "The Observance of the Sabbath". This week we'll look at some paragraphs from page 354, in the section "Preparation for the Sabbath" and comment on them.
In all that pertains to the success of God's work, the very first victories are to be won in the home life. Here the preparation for the Sabbath must begin. Throughout the week let parents remember that their home is to be a school in which their children shall be prepared for the courts above. Let their words be right words. No words which their children should not hear are to escape their lips. Let the spirit be kept free from irritation. Parents, during the week live as in the sight of a holy God, who has given you children to train for Him. Train for Him the little church in your home, that on the Sabbath all may be prepared to worship in the Lord's sanctuary. Each morning and evening present your children to God as His blood-bought heritage. Teach them that it is their highest duty and privilege to love and serve God.
Parents should be particular to make the worship of God an object lesson for their children. Passages of Scripture should be more often on their lips, especially those passages that prepare the heart for religious service. The precious words might well be often repeated: "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him." Psalm 62:5.
"In all that pertains to the success of God's work, the very first victories are to be won in the home life." Success starts in what we do during the week, at home. This is asking quite a bit. Here we are particularly looking at Inspiring Worship and according to this principle, if we don't worship God and live in His presence during the week, we won't be able to find and worship Him on Sabbath morning.
"Let their words be right words. No words which their children should not hear are to escape their lips." While this is directed at parents, it is something we all need to do to be prepared for Inspiring Worship, we need to control what we say. Our words can prevent us, and those we live with, from having a fulfilling worship experience on Sabbath morning. The next paragraph describes "right words" as being "passages of Scripture.. often on our lips"
"Let the spirit be kept free from irritation." Not only words are important, but also the emotions and motives that inspire them. Especially be careful to avoid irritation.
"Parents, during the week live as in the sight of a holy God, who has given you children to train for Him." Part of preparing for worship is realising that God is not just real but "holy". And watching us! This can drive us away from Him in fear, or if we understand the verse in the next paragraph (Ps 62:5) correctly, it can draw us near, expecting His presence to bless us and reflexly, make us holy too. By living in the sight of God, we can avoid the irritation of life's little problems.
"Train for Him the little church in your home, that on the Sabbath all may be prepared to worship in the Lord's sanctuary." We are to worship during the week as a preparation for Sabbath worship. This training in worship is essential, it should include all the aspects of Inspiring Worship (praise, teaching, what the people bring) because the next two sentences are about intercessory prayer and teaching.
"Parents should be particular to make the worship of God an object lesson for their children." During the week, our worship should be an example of what true worship should be. We are to be 'particular' about this. In other words our worship during the week shouldn't be careless or unplanned but something we put our thought and effort into.
So one of the the blessings of Sabbath worship is that to be truly inspiring we must prepare for it by worshipping throughout the week.
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