Fri.-Sabbath, 7/20-22/18 Devotion

Thank God—it is almost Sunday! To help us get ready for the church’s Sab-bath worship of the Triune God, here is Thomas Watson, from his "The Ten Commandments" book:

"We keep the Sabbath Day holy, by 'consecrating and dedicating' this day to the 'service of the High God.' It is good to rest on the Sabbath Day from the works of our calling; but if we rest from labor and do no more, the ox and the ass keep the Sabbath as well as we; for they rest from labor. We must dedi-cate the day to God; we must not only 'keep a Sabbath,' but 'sanctify' a Sab-bath. Sabbath-sanctification consists in two things: (1) Solemn preparation for it. If a prince were to come to your house, what preparation would you make for his entertainment! You would sweep the house, wash the floor, adorn the room with the richest tapestry and hangings, that there might be something suitable to the state and dignity of so great a person. On the blessed Sab-bath, God intends to have sweet communion with you; He seems to say to you, as Christ to Zacchaeus, 'Make haste and come down, for this day I must abide at your house,' (Luke 19:5). Now, what preparation should you make for entertaining this King of glory? When Saturday evening approaches, sound a retreat; call your minds off from the world and summon your thoughts togeth-er, to think of the great work of the approaching day. Purge out all unclean af-fections, which may indispose you for the work of the Sabbath. Evening pre-paration will be like the tuning of an instrument, it will fit the heart better for the duties of the ensuing Sabbath."