The Active Sabbath

The blessings of keeping Sabbath are not about inactivity but about being focused on and committed to the special work that God has for us today.

Most Christians believe that because we live in the era of grace, not law the idea of keeping Sabbath is an unnecessary custom. This coupled with the relentless demands of our 24/7 – 21st century world has caused the subject of a Holy day of rest to fall into our collective sea of forgetfulness. But Jesus said quite clearly on multiple occasions that He had come not to abolish the law rather to fulfill it. For example He taught us that refraining from murdering our neighbors was not enough, He said we must deal with the hatred in our hearts. Jesus was in no way implying that in the New Covenant we are now free to murder irritating neighbors! In the same way God has not changed His mind about remembering the Sabbath to keep it holy. When we disregard the Sabbath we are placing a part of our will outside of His. God rests and He waits for us to take notice. When we rush down our paths so immersed in our own busyness we are missing out on our need for quietness. It is in the quietness of Sabbath that we will hear His still small voice. If we pause long enough for the dust to clear we will see Him on the road ahead beckoning us to follow. That is when we may make the shocking discovery of a Holy activity far beyond anything we could come up with on our own. As we enter into our Father’s activities we will find there a yoke of wonderful rest that He has prepared for us to share with Him!

The Forgotten Commandment

1509799548052_image.jpgWe Protestants are often pointing out the second commandment but are quite short on remembering the fourth. The phrase “Protestant work ethic” has come down through the years for a reason. We are big on work but sadly short on rest.

When a visitor appears in our church we often show them all the ministries they can be involved with almost like inviting them to apply for a job. It is easy for us as we rush through our busy lives to forget that the first twelve apostles left their work to follow Jesus. Jesus never said, “Come follow me because I have a job for you!” What we need to do is to offer rest to those around us wearied by the task master of this world. God Himself rested on the Sabbath day and He made it Holy. He has given it to us as a gift not a demand. Which of us will pause long enough between all the things we are persuaded we have to do in order to open His gift to us this weekend. Be blessed. and rest for a while with Jesus!

Reflecting on the Sabbath

Keeping Sabbath is a step of faith with our time in the same way that giving our tithe is a step of faith with our finances.  We give our financial resources trusting that God will multiply what remains, so also our committing to a day of rest will give God the opportunity to multiply our other days with unlimited peace.

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It is amazing how Jesus accomplished more when he was resting than the disciples did when they were busy working.

And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8:24-26

Jesus wasn’t being lazy when He was sleeping. Jesus simply knew that the Father would help Him to do just the right work at just the right time if He rested!

As we rest we depend more fully on Jesus. As we come to a stop even for a few quiet hours our racing thoughts calm to a hush. In that quietness we can begin to hear the whisper of God’s still small voice. That quietness is like the great calm which Jesus brought to the sea by His word. When was the last time that a great calm ruled over the storm of anxious thoughts and struggles in your life?

As believers in Jesus Christ we know that one day we will finish the work of this life. On that day we will enter into the greatest experience of our Sabbath rest in Him and our works will remain behind!

‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Revelation 14:13