Devotional from JCM Team Member Lori:
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Genesis 2:2-3
The Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew, is a day of rest that God not only made holy but commanded that it be kept as a holy day of rest. This seventh day of rest is traditionally observed from Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown each week and in the Jewish faith, it is a way of life accompanied by specific prayer, lighting of candles and a lack of work or business. The word “Shabbat” means to stop working.
But as Christians in the 21st century, why does the Sabbath matter to us? As Abraham Joshua Heschel points out, throughout the Bible, God is concerned with space (places and people) and with time (seasons/festivals, generations and events) - the meaning for life. The Sabbath is holiness in time and a time for us to be with God, to find unity with Him. When we truly rest with God, we become a place where His presence can dwell.
In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus is God’s rest. He is the restoration of all creation and when we rest, we are also preparing the way for God to dwell with us again.
I know, you’re thinking it’s something else to add to your to-do list. The Sabbath is not meant to be another set of rules or demands upon your already busy life. It does not mean that you must stop everything at sundown on Friday or that you cannot attend your child’s soccer game on Saturday. It is an opportunity to put all the stress, tension, and demands of the world away for a moment and experience the eternal rest that is to come. It is a promise we are invited to enjoy and one that will actually provide more freedom if we let it.
So, maybe try celebrating the Sabbath this week with just one or two things: read a few verses in Genesis, take a 20-minute walk to experience God’s creation, or write down how God has made His presence known in the past week. The opportunities are numerous, but just start! Let your rest, however long, become a part of your weekly routine and God’s eternal love for you will likely move you to not only long for the Sabbath but to embrace it from sundown to sundown.
For a visual look at the meaning of the Sabbath, check out The Bible Project’s video HERE
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