New Habits 8: Sabbath Rest

We want to follow our new habit with fervor and faith, but also with the same grace toward ourselves that God gives us and with an understanding of the role that rest plays in growing our spiritual life. When you plant a garden, there are many different places in the process where letting the soil rest, the seeds rest and the tender young shoots rest promotes maximum growth. Resting on the Sabbath may not be a verbalized part of the new habit that God has called you to, but He does call all of us to rest and to grow, as a spiritual habit that He modeled and commanded us to follow.

Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day you shall not do any work, nor anyone in your household. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. But on the seventh day He rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. Exodus 20: 8-11

Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the LORD your God brought you out with His strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5: 15

It is one of the Ten Commandments! Observe the Sabbath day and keep it as a holy day of rest. The Sabbath for God’s people in the Old Testament started Friday night until Saturday night. Our Sabbath is generally on Sunday, because Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday. So, what argument could we ever have against observing that? 

You may be thinking, “But Sunday afternoon is the only day I can get in some really good hiking, a bike ride or a paddle board session!” (okay, this one is me!) “It has been hard, but we have crafted family time adventures on Sundays and it would be bad for our family to give that up!” “If I don’t spend three hours working at my job on Sunday, I’ll never catch up and be prepared for the coming week!”

These are certainly not bad ways to spend a Sunday. What instruction might we find in the New Testament narrative?

Jesus healed on the Sabbath! He healed Simon’s mother-in-law, the village sick, a man with a deformed hand, a crippled woman, a man with swollen limbs, and a lame man. What He said was, “Aren’t people more important than the rules of the Sabbath?” (Mark 2:27) “Doesn’t the Law permit good deeds on the Sabbath?” (Mark 3:4) 

Jesus called Himself the Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5)! Moses’ Sabbath rule was for resting, but the risen Christ leaves us free to serve Him on Sunday (and every day). 

The Christian’s rest is permanent! The old covenant of sacrifice is set aside by the new covenant of the cross of Jesus. The Jews labored for acceptance, but our labor is completed in Christ. An eternal rest is waiting for the people of God, gained through our belief (Hebrews 4:9). In Deuteronomy, this permanent rest through salvation is anticipated by the command to remember that the LORD saved them from slavery in Egypt.

All days are holy! Whatever day you choose to rest and worship God, honoring Him and resting in Him is pleasing to God (Romans 14:5-6). 

How will you remember to rest in Him?

As Isaiah 58: 1-7 overturns attitudes about fasting, verses 13 and 14 also change attitudes about the Sabbath. Fasting is not about the rules but about your heart and serving God by serving the poor. The Sabbath is not about nitpicking what not to do rules but about your heart and finding joy and rest in the Lord. Jesus came to set us free! Our freedom is honored when we share His light with our hike or bike friends. Celebrate His light with family. Be diligent at work and share His love there as if He is our real boss (Col 3:23). 

Lord of the Sabbath, I am humbled by the work You did to assure my rest. I don’t want to waste the time You have given me. Help me redeem it for You! Amen.