God's Sabbath

T HE S ABBATH B LESSING

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idea that all that is required to keep the Sabbath, is to cease from all work upon that day, attend church services, and take a drive or go for a walk in the afternoon. Provided such activities are not done from a purely legalistic point of view, a blessing will be re ceived. However, it will be nothing compared with what God’s children would gain if they really worked diligently and consist ently at getting out of the Sabbath all that He has put into it. A practical illustration of how to accomplish this is provided in the acquisition of musical skill. First, the instrument, such as an electronic keyboard, is bought. The makers, using the skill and knowledge God has enabled them to develop, have built wonder ful possibilities into the equipment. The salesperson, who demon strates it in the showroom, thrills the buyer with its rich tones, subtle harmonies, sparkling melodies, and seemingly endless combinations. The aspiring musician cannot wait to get it home to produce and enjoy the same wonderful sounds. But not being an accomplished organist, he finds to his dismay that very little of what the salesperson produced is now forthcoming. At this point he suffers an acute sense of disappointment, and may even wonder if there is a problem with the keyboard. But there has been no change in the instrument. The sales person did not substitute an inferior one for the original that was ordered and paid for. Nothing has happened but the out working of natural law. The simple fact is that the individual has to work hard at learning how to get out of the instrument all that was built into it. No one is an instant virtuoso. The person chosen to sell the equipment was selected because he had devel oped the ability to bring out the best in the instrument. It would have cost him endless hours of study and practice to develop those abilities and maintain them. Likewise, the new owner must realize that if he wishes to en joy the exquisite pleasure to be derived from bringing out the best in his new instrument, he must study and practice with great diligence and close application. No one has ever attained any heights of achievement without persevering effort and con centrated study. The harder we work at developing our skills, the more competent we become in the use of those blessings. Those who do reach the higher levels of excellence and pro ficiency are few in number compared to the earth’s teeming