Sabbath

What do you think of when you hear the word Sabbath?

As Christians, Sabbath is a concept and word that gets thrown around a lot.  Something that we grow up hearing but do we truly internalize what it means?  In Genesis after creation God took the seventh day to rest, as Sabbath.

I'm not sure about you...but I had always thought of this as a biblical principal, yet antiquated.  It never dawned on me that Sabbath is in fact a mandate from God.  That He didn't need to rest yet he set before us an example to copy.  That would give us the rest and energy we need, from Him.

Wait a minute, what??  God wants us to rest?  To stop?  To chill?  Doesn't that seem counter productive?  Especially in our fast paced ever evolving culture?

I have to admit, for such a foreign concept I am being hit with the idea of Sabbath on all fronts.  In January my small group decided to do a 5 part study called Breathe by Priscilla Shirer exploring how to implement Sabbath into our ever changing, full lives and personally discover where we are lacking in Sabbath.  If that weren't enough, I just returned from a day staff training on the very same biblical concept.

Ok God.  I get it.  I'm listening.  Don't you just love how God likes to knock us over the head with what we need?

And so, I invite you.  Come along with me.  Explore what Sabbath means to you.  I encourage you to seek outside the typical imagery of encountering Sabbath and God by sitting in a tranquil place reading your bible.  That certainly can be rejuvenating and life giving- but what about those morning walks/hikes?  Taking a couple hours in worship?  What fills your cup?  A night with friends?    Reading?

Take this season of lent to find your version of Sabbath time- rest, relaxation, tranquility.  Time when the "to-do" lists are placed to the side and we grow as Christians.  That may look like a full day or a couple hours of weekly, intentional time.  And in turn, we will be healthier Christians and able to give back in love and ministry to fulfill our most important mandates from Christ...

"Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Matthew 22:37-39

"...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8