The Lord our God is the God who blesses! Blessing is the first thing God did right after the creation of the universe and humans. The blessing was twofold: (1) blessing of reproduction and dominion (Gen. 1:28); (2) blessing of the Sabbath principle (Gen. 2:3). The blessing of the Sabbath cycle is a perpetual order in creation deeply embedded in every strand and sinew of our beings and the rhythm of the universe.

By free gift, we became children of our parents; by obeying and respecting the teachings of our parents, we enjoy a happy relationship with our parents. By sheer grace, we receive the grace of salvation; by obeying and respecting the ways of God, we enjoy all blessings from God the Creator. When we respect and obey the creational order of the Sabbath principle, we enjoy a blessed life in God who created this universe for us in His own way.

In this last column of the series on the Sabbath lifestyle, I would suggest one simple thing that how we can apply the blessing of the Sabbath principle in our daily life in the City of Thompson. The way of bringing the blessing to the door of our homes and our city in this aspect is obvious. Respect the Lord’s Day as the special day. Respect the day as the day that belongs to the Lord, not to us. Respect the day as the day you honour the Lord who gives you life and will determine your life, and gives what you have and will determine what you will have. Respect the day as the day of rest. Respect the day as the day of worship.

Except for the services and works necessary for helping others in safety, charity, medical services, social order and services, and road and transportation services … etc., other activities, such as increasing profit, maintaining business, and pursuing pleasure and recreation are to be ceased on the day as tangible expression of respecting the God of the Sabbath in this city.

Maybe the keeping of the Sabbath principle sounds too ideal. It may sound obsolete. If you feel so, it is a proof that you have gone that much far from the blessed way of God.

I would suggest one thing: why don’t we begin with respecting the morning time of the Lord’s Day? At least the morning of the day! At least in the morning of the day of Sabbath, stop your businesses, stop sports games, close the stores, close the arena, and close the swimming pool. At least in the morning of the day, let your employees have time remembering their Creator God. At least in the morning of the day, let your children learn how to honour the ordinance of God.

During the winter Olympics in Vancouver, all games started after one o’clock in the afternoon of the Lord’s days, so that all involved people might honour God in their worship. It is fitting to the spirit of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, which begins with: “Whereas Canada is founded upon the principles that recognize the supremacy of God.…” Let us restore the supremacy of God in this land. At least in the morning of the day, let all in the city of Thompson respect the God who blessed the day of Sabbath as a special gift for us in time. Let the businesses and stores start after respecting God in the morning of the Lord’s Day. Let parents drive their kids to lakes after respecting God in the morning of the day. Let sports games begin after one o’clock of the Lord’s Day in this city.

The Lord our God is the God who wants to bless us! When we honour God, He honours us. When we obey the blessed cycle of the Sabbath in the creational ordinance, the blessings of God will be yours and your children’s from generation to generation.

Rev. Sean Kim is the minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church at 132 Greenway Cres. in Thompson.