The Special Day…

Today in Canada it is “Labour Day,” a holiday which grew out of labour strife in both Canada and the U.S.A. An 1872 Printer’s strike in Toronto and a 1894 strike by Railway workers in the U.S. worked to bring the issue of overwork to a head. A twelve hour, workday was common at that time. Labour unions had appeared and had begun organizing workers to demand a shorter work week. In Canada the “Nine Hour Movement” began demanding a reduction of the work week hourly total to 58 hours.

In the U.S.A. President Grover Cleveland signed “Labor Day” into law on 28 June, 1894.

In Canada Prime Minister John Thompson passed a law making Labour Day official on 23 July 1894.

Today the first Monday of September is recognized as a national holiday in both countries on which we celebrate and honour the contributions of our workers to our respective countries and economies.

Taking a day off to rest and to savour one’s accomplishments is important. It refuels and refocuses energies and motivates one to reach higher. It provides refreshment and strengthening physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. But one day a year is vastly insufficient!

Our good Lord and Creator knew this centuries ago… on the first week of Creation. He set the example and principle Himself, and established such a day of rest on every one in seven days.

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Gen. 2:1-3).

Was God tired? No… God does not tire.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary…” (Isa. 40:28).

Why then did God rest? God rested simply to show us how it is done. He rested to set us an example. As the Word says, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.” Holy means “set apart.” He made this one day in seven to be different than the others, necessary for His Creation, and to be used in its own very “set apart” way.

So enjoy this special “Labour Day” holiday established by men for the purposes of men, but in all your enjoying forget not that more frequent “Holy Day” established by God and for the purposes of God.

More tomorrow…

To hear Pastor Andrew’s Sunday message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.