Letter from Dan Dowd – February 27, 2026
Sabbath Thought – Remember the Sabbath Day
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” (Exodus 20:8, NKJV).
The word “remember” in that verse has the meaning in Hebrew of certainly not forgetting, but it also has the meaning of something brought to mind regularly, to make a memorial, to mark, and to mention. Why did God say to “remember”? Part of the answer is that the Sabbath has existed since Creation as is expressed in the following verses in Exodus 20:9-11. These verses in Exodus were recorded some 2500 years after God established the Sabbath at the end of the Creation week.
At the end of the Creation week in Genesis 2:2-3 God established the Sabbath for mankind (Mark 2:28). God blessed the Sabbath and made it holy as He rested in it. The language of Exodus 20 and Genesis 2 is very similar and strongly indicates that God attached significance to the Sabbath. We see as well that the Sabbath is deeply rooted in The Commandments, because those commandments are a reflection of God’s nature and character.
The Sabbath shows us the Creator – to remind us of our relationship with Him. In honoring the Sabbath we understand that relationship matures, from us being a stranger to being a friend like Abraham was (James 2:23). Because of the Sabbath we learn more and more from the Scriptures. By keeping the Sabbath we are proven before God – whether we will walk in His law or not. The Sabbath helps us to become sanctified (Exodus 31:13). In keeping the Sabbath, we emulate Christ keeping the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). Paul remembered the Sabbath (Acts 18:4) and taught people of God from His Word on that day. Paul encouraged us to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Remembering involves being reminded of all of the things above and also of what is promised to come in the fulfillment of God’s Sabbath (Hebrews 4:9-11). The Sabbath points to God’s Kingdom and the rest mankind will have when God’s law is written in their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).
Use this day to be reminded of all that is pictured in the Sabbath. Remember to keep the Sabbath holy. Remember your Creator. Remember the Sabbath day.
I wish you a profitable Sabbath,
Dan Dowd
28 February, 2026
Dan Dowd
Dan currently pastors 3 congregations in Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Wisconsin Dells). He has been associated with God’s church since he was a young boy.
Dan has an Associate degree in Commercial Art with almost 25 years in the publishing/advertising field. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree (in Theology) from Ambassador College (graduating in 1986), was ordained an elder in 1997 and then was hired full time in 2004 as a minister in United Church of God.
Dan currently lives just north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his wife Roxanne.
