Making “New Year’s Eve Resolutions” is an interesting practice. In no way trying to knock those who make them, but what is it about January 1st that makes that day the day to make changes? It’s just a day! Couldn’t those changes be made on December 28th just as easily? Why wait?
The same perspective could be taken toward other “holidays.” What is it about February 14th that makes that the day to say, “I love you”? What is it about November 11th that makes that the day to express appreciation to our veterans? What is about someone’s birthday that makes it a day to celebrate and give gifts? After all, these are just days! They’re like any other days! Couldn’t any or all of these things be done on other days?
Now, understand that I’m just trying to get you to think. I’m not against any of these special days or the “special commemorations” that are part of them (usually). I’m just trying to lead your thoughts down to this point.
Too many have taken that philosophy—i.e., “A day is just a day. What’s so special about a particular day over another day?”—and they have tried to apply that philosophy to Sunday. You know Sunday, right? The first day of the week. The “last day of the weekend.” The day before most folks “have to go back to work.” It’s just like any other day, right? Does it really matter what I do (or don’t do) on Sunday?
The apostle John had an interesting way of describing Sunday in the book of Revelation. He could have called it “the first day of the week,” like he did when writing his gospel account (John 20:1, 19), but he didn’t. He could have called it “Sunday,” which would have made sense to us. But, instead, on the occasion when John “was in the Spirit” and prepared to receive “the revelation of Jesus Christ,” the Holy Spirit inspired him to designate Sunday as “the Lord’s Day” (Rev. 1:10).
You see, Sunday is not just a day! It is not like any other day! It is, set apart by God Himself, the Lord’s Day! Therefore, we must take the more earnest heed to ensure that (1) what we do on the Lord’s Day is what the Lord wants us to do on His day, and (2) we do not move what the Lord wants done on His day to another day.
What is it about Sunday that makes it the day to worship the Lord? What is it about Sunday that makes what we do on that day in worship holy and unmovable (in totality) to any other day? The answer: The Lord! That’s why it is called “the Lord’s Day!” May God help us to love His day, respect His day, long for His day, seize His day, give ourselves and truly worship Him on His day! The Lord’s Day is not just a day!