A Day of Rest
“Jesus is our Sabbath.”
Exodus 20:1-2, 8-11 (NIV)
And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Reflection
God wasn’t being flippant or subtle here. Keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, set apart, and special to Him. We are not the Almighty. We do not have power over our own lives. The purpose of keeping the Sabbath is to let go of the myth that we do. When we live like we do, we end up feeling exhausted, numb, and unable to enjoy the blessings God has in store for us. The Sabbath is not a burden. It is a gift so we can learn to rest in Him. We are to cast our worries on Him, stand in the scriptures, and receive His blessings.
We can’t properly hear from God if we are constantly uptight and living in unrest. Jesus is our Sabbath. He’s not tired and He doesn’t need rest. God created the Sabbath for the sake of His own name. It was planned before creation even began for our benefit, but we keep it to honor Him.
True rest can’t be experienced apart from faith in God. You would think people would accept rest so easily, but for many of us, it takes discipline. The world rewards productivity and achievement. Why are we so against resting, and why are we so bad at it sometimes? Do we believe the lie that we are lazy if we’re not busy?
Organizing time is essential to music composition. A rest indicates a period of silence. Sometimes the space between the notes makes all the difference. With an appropriately placed rest, thematic weight becomes deafening. In a whirling symphony of intense volume, a crescendo builds just before all energy is spent and a silent, powerful breath is taken. The audience, shattered with emotion, goes from restless to rest. Likewise, rests are essential to our walk with God.
Keeping the Sabbath isn’t just a wise and healthy practice. It restores us and honors God. It should be a day to do things you enjoy that helps you appreciate what He has done for you. If we trust in His wisdom, we learn to rest our souls. When we rest, we worship Him and demonstrate to the world how people of God behave. In turn, we reveal who God is to them.
Action Steps
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are the One in control. I trust You know the best for my life. You are the source of all good things I enjoy. Help me truly believe the world will keep turning even if I rest. Give me sound mind when my thoughts and anxieties feel out of control. I thank You for Your grace and comfort. I come to You as my place of refuge. Help me to walk in Your rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.
And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Reflection
God wasn’t being flippant or subtle here. Keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, set apart, and special to Him. We are not the Almighty. We do not have power over our own lives. The purpose of keeping the Sabbath is to let go of the myth that we do. When we live like we do, we end up feeling exhausted, numb, and unable to enjoy the blessings God has in store for us. The Sabbath is not a burden. It is a gift so we can learn to rest in Him. We are to cast our worries on Him, stand in the scriptures, and receive His blessings.
We can’t properly hear from God if we are constantly uptight and living in unrest. Jesus is our Sabbath. He’s not tired and He doesn’t need rest. God created the Sabbath for the sake of His own name. It was planned before creation even began for our benefit, but we keep it to honor Him.
True rest can’t be experienced apart from faith in God. You would think people would accept rest so easily, but for many of us, it takes discipline. The world rewards productivity and achievement. Why are we so against resting, and why are we so bad at it sometimes? Do we believe the lie that we are lazy if we’re not busy?
Organizing time is essential to music composition. A rest indicates a period of silence. Sometimes the space between the notes makes all the difference. With an appropriately placed rest, thematic weight becomes deafening. In a whirling symphony of intense volume, a crescendo builds just before all energy is spent and a silent, powerful breath is taken. The audience, shattered with emotion, goes from restless to rest. Likewise, rests are essential to our walk with God.
Keeping the Sabbath isn’t just a wise and healthy practice. It restores us and honors God. It should be a day to do things you enjoy that helps you appreciate what He has done for you. If we trust in His wisdom, we learn to rest our souls. When we rest, we worship Him and demonstrate to the world how people of God behave. In turn, we reveal who God is to them.
Action Steps
- Is your hard work the only thing keeping your life together? This week, take time to scrutinize and evaluate your schedule. Carve out time to rest and delight in God’s blessings.
- If you are new to keeping the Sabbath, start small. Discuss your day as a family and commit to taking a small step each week. God loves us and He modeled this for us!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are the One in control. I trust You know the best for my life. You are the source of all good things I enjoy. Help me truly believe the world will keep turning even if I rest. Give me sound mind when my thoughts and anxieties feel out of control. I thank You for Your grace and comfort. I come to You as my place of refuge. Help me to walk in Your rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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