
“Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.”
– United States Department of Labor
_____________________________________________________________________________
Dear friends,
Our secular nation offers us one day a year to rest from our labor, in honor of the creators of our American freedom. Yet, we so quickly forget to rest on the day appointed by God to honor our divine Creator and Freedom-Fighter (our only source of true strength and freedom)!
NOTE: I have inserted [brackets] to clarify certain verses. PLEASE do not take my word for it, but study these things for yourself with much prayer and meekness of heart.
_____________________________________________________________________________
God is our Freedom-Fighter
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage [sin]. (Galatians 5:1 NKJV)
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13 NKJV)
Salvation is a free gift from God (we cannot earn it by our actions), but we should never use it as an opportunity to return to sin. By doing so, we reject Christ’s promises to free us from our sinful nature: “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) and “whatever things you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). Jesus calls His repentant children to, “sin no more” (John 5:14, John 8:11). Why would He ask such a thing, if it were not possible to change our sinful nature by His power?
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness [ref. the Law of God]. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. (1 John 3:4-6)
The Bible is clear: while we still continue sinning, we are slaves to [the law of] sin. Unless the law of God is written in our hearts, we cannot overcome sin.
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them [children of God] after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.” (Hebrews 10:16 NKJV)
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free [from sin], you shall be free indeed. (John 8:34-36 NKJV)
We are either …
- Slaves of the law of liberty and free from the law of sin OR
- Slaves to the law of sin and free from the law of liberty.
There is no middle ground:
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth (Revelation 3:16)
If we do not respond to Christ’s love and the writing of His law on our hearts (Hebrews 10:16, Jeremiah 31:33, 2 Corinthians 3:3, Psalms 40:8), we inevitably struggle under the law of sin & death—thinking we can live a sanctified life without a Spirit-filled relationship. A profession of faith without love in action is worthless (1 Corinthians 13). God is eager to write His law on our hearts and adopt us as His children. This adoption is only possible through Christ—who also kept the law [of God] out of love (Galatians 4:4-7).
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law [of sin & death] could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law [of liberty] might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:2-5)
44 So shall I keep Your law [of liberty] continually, Forever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. (Psalm 119:44-45 NKJV)
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25 NKJV)
_____________________________________________________________________________
God as Creator
The New Testament tells us that God made the universe through His Son (Hebrews 1:2, 1 Corinthians 8:6), and that all things were created by Jesus and for Jesus (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). God’s attributes are clearly seen from the beginning of the world (Romans 1:20).
____________________________________________________________________
God’s “Labor Day”
Today we relax on America’s Labor Day in honor of the human “creators of freedom.” It is no coincidence that we tend to serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever (Romans 1:25).
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:9-10 NKJV)
17 It is a sign between Me [God] and the children of Israel* forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:17 NKJV)
*Christians are included in the children of Israel by adoption (see Ephesians 2:11-13, 2:19, 3:6).
4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.” (Hebrews 4:4 NKJV)
We tend to be forgetful hearers of the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25)…
18b He [God] gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. (Exodus 31:18b)
And God wrote His “Labor Day” law with His own finger—to give us 52 days of rest each year! He wrote it on tablets of stone and is now waiting for us open our hearts to His law of liberty.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work… 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8-11)
The Bible plainly states that God blessed and sanctified the 7th day (Genesis 2:3) because it is a sign of God’s power to sanctify us (Exodus 31:13)!
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Genesis 2:3 NKJV)
13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. (Exodus 31:13 NKJV)
What does “sanctify”mean?
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17 NKJV)
12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. (Hebrews 13:12 NKJV)
Merriam-Webster Dictionary: SANCTIFY
1: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : consecrate
2: to free from sin : purify
God sets us apart for His sacred purpose: to be set free from sin. That is God’s #1 purpose: for us to live without sin. He wants to [sanctify] set us free from sin COMPLETELY. God is faithful and He WILL do what He says. God set up the Sabbath as a sign (constant, weekly reminder) that He will keep his promise to sanctify us & set us free from sin.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-34 NKJV)
_____________________________________________________________________________
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.