The Fourth Commandment

 In the KJV (King James' Version) of the Bible, Exodus 20: 8-11, we read:

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

The part we memorize is verse 8: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Then follow the reasons given for this commandment. 

Verse 10 tells us the things we should refrain from doing in order to keep the day holy.

I feel that these "do nots" were given because the Lord knew we needed to rest and recover from the labors of the week. We needed a day to recover not only physically, but also spiritually. 

So, we have read what we should refrain from doing on the Sabbath day, but what about the things that we should do? What are the things that lift us and feed us spiritually?
The answer is simple: we should do anything that brings us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and we do this when we follow His example.

When we participate in our worship services, visit the sick and the lonely, study the scriptures, comfort someone in need of comfort, we are going to fill our spiritual vessel; we are coming closer to our Savior.

After all, in Matthew 25: 35-40, we read:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Now, are these things to be done only on the Sabbath? No, of course not. We should strive to serve others every day. However, these are things that we could incorporate in the day set aside by the Lord to help us physically and spiritually. These are things that can help us "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

What things do you like to do to obey the fourth commandment?