Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Deseret News National recently conducted a study as part of their The Ten Today campaign. The results are startling:

Only 50 percent

of all U.S. adults say the Sabbath day has any personal spiritual meaning for them.

Dropping for four generations

The perceived importance of the Sabbath day has been steadily dropping for four generations.

Dropped by 28 percent

Church attendance in the U.S. has dropped by 28 percent since 1978.

Satan's on a roll, and we should be worried.

So, what does keeping the Sabbath day holy mean? Why didn't God give Moses a few more specifics on how to obey that incredibly vague commandment?

I don't presume to speak for God, but consider the following thoughts:

Less Google, more God

One purpose of all of God's commandments is to draw us closer to Him. Maybe he doesn't give specific instructions on how to keep the Sabbath day holy in order to redirect your attention to Him for further guidance. Genius, right? If you're not sure if a certain activity is Sunday appropriate, ask God through prayer.

Move forward

Try not to become paralyzed with indecision if God doesn't answer you immediately. The gray areas embedded in this commandment are there on purpose. God has given us the ability to make our own decisions. Like any gift you've ever given, you want the recipient to use it.

Do you remember when your father gave you your first bicycle? He ran by your side while you learned how to ride, but occasionally had to let go. You had to keep pedaling. You crashed a few times, but eventually you learned, while your father proudly watched.

That being said, be open to correction. If you're making an honest effort to keep His commandments, He will set you back on the right course when you stray.

Change your paradigm

We often view the 10 commandments as rules that restrict our freedom. Let's try looking at the Sabbath day (and every commandment) as God trying to teach us how to become more like Him. Each commandment outlines an attribute of God that He wants us to develop.

God doesn't need you to keep the Sabbath day holy

He doesn't. Don't get me wrong, He definitely wants you to, but you could break every commandment in the book and God will continue to be an unchangeable, all-knowing God. He will mourn like any parent for the unwise decisions of a child, but remember Christ's words in Mark 2:27, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." This commandment is for our benefit. If we choose to disregard it, it's our loss.

Comment below with what you do to keep the Sabbath day holy.

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