Welcoming The Sabbath

Before the setting of the sun let the members of the family assemble to read God’s word, to sing and pray. There is need of reform here, for many have been remiss. We need to confess to God and to one another. We should begin anew to make special arrangements that every member of the family may be prepared to honor the day which God has blessed and sanctified. Testimonies For the Church, vol. 6, 356, 357 

We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is is consecrated, holy time. Testimonies For the Church, vol. 6, 356 

Why not honor the Creator of the heavens and the earth in obeying the fourth commandment? Why not, as the Sabbath is approaching, Friday, have our business over before the sun goes down? Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, 107 

Sabbath Morning

Let not the precious hours of the Sabbath be wasted in bed. On Sabbath morning the family should be astir early. If they rise late, there is confusion and bustle in preparing for breakfast and Sabbath school. There is hurrying, jostling, and impatience. Thus unholy feelings come into the home. The Sabbath, thus desecrated, becomes a weariness, and its coming is dreaded rather than loved. Testimonies For the Church, vol. 6, 357

It is a sad failing with many that they are always behind time on Sabbath morning. They are very particular about their own time, they cannot afford to lose an hour of that; but the Lord’s time, the only day out of the seven that the Lord claims as His, and requires us to devote to Him, quite a portion of this is squandered away by sleeping late in the morning. In this they are robbing God. It causes them to be behind in everything; it makes confusion in the family; and finally results in the tardiness of the entire family at Sabbath-school, and perhaps at meeting. Now why can we not rise early with the birds, and offer praise and thanksgiving to God? Try it, brethren and sisters. Have your preparations all made the day before, and come promptly to the Sabbath-school and meeting, and you will thereby not only benefit others, but you will reap rich blessings for yourselves.  The Youth’s Instructor, March 19, 1879 

If on Sabbath morning parents spend hours in sleep, they lose much. They are wasting God’s time, and it cannot be recalled. If it were their own, they would not thus idle it away. If the parents arise early, they can prepare the morning meal and have family prayers without haste or confusion. Then there is time to review the lessons, and the children, with their parents, can go to the Sabbath-school without becoming hurried, and can do justice to their lessons. Review and Herald, December 2, 1884