Are the Sabbath laws binding on Christians today?
Christians and the Sabbath - John MacArthur
See the comments for a (weak) rebuttal if you are so inclined.
Colossians 2:16-17 HCSB
Therefore don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah.
Hebrews 4:9-10 HCSB
A Sabbath rest remains, therefore, for God’s people. 10 For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His.
Interesting that HCSB capitalized Sabbath in Hebrews but not in Colossians.
Galatians 4:10-11 HCSB
You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
Romans 14:5 HCSB
One person considers one day to be above another day. Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind.
Suffering 3
2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 1:9
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
Our human nature wants us to place our confidence on our own strength and intellect rather than on God.
Calvin says, “We are not brought to real submission until we have been laid low by the crushing hand of God.”
Garland says, “When things are at their worst and all human resources are exhausted, then one is most receptive to learning about the power of God.” And, “God’s power is made perfect in the weakness of the cross of his Son, and that divine pattern of working in the world continues in the cruciform ministry of his apostle.”
Dr. Roger Spradlin says, “Most Christians, want the product of Paul’s life (his maturity), but not the process of his life (the suffering).”
We need to also allow God to work in our loved ones lives in this way. We should certainly pray for healing and deliverance. But we should also pray for (true) comfort, patience, perseverance, and that they would seek God in their suffering and allow Him to glorify Himself in whatever way He sees fit.