Day of Rest

I often stay up fairly late on Saturday as I prepare the sermon and service. That being said, I often take a nap on Sunday afternoon. Today was no different. It feels so good to be able to let the body recuperate and be energized once again, Rest is very important for health, alertness, and renewal. As I get older, I find that I often do not sleep as long as I used to, but when I get a good night of sleep, it shows. When we look at God’s word, when it comes to rest, it is not taking a day off without any work but rather a Sabbath rest to the Lord. What’s the difference? One is a physical rest while the other is spiritual. Taking a day off so that we can finish up the jobs and chores that need to be done is not a Sabbath rest. We get a couple pictures of this Sabbath rest in the New Testament. Jesus says, “Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest”. The rest is not found in our lack of work, but rather our coming before God with a humble heart. Jesus says when we surrender all our struggles, sins, emotions, etc. that it will be replaced by the peace of God which gives true rest. Just refraining from work does not bring that true rest. Another key passage is when Jesus states that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. So, if we go to Jesus to find that rest and Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, the logical conclusion is our Sabbath rest is found when we rest in Jesus. If our rest is found in submitting to Jesus, then every day is a Sabbath rest, for every day we are to submit to Him. Is it good to have one day specific to find our rest in Jesus? Yes. Should we take that rest on Sunday? In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was on Saturday. We speak of our day of worship to the Lord as being on Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. Is the Sabbath limited to the one day? No. The commandment tells us that we are to “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and our Sabbath rest. So, the Sabbath is kept when God’s word is taught in its truth and purity, as that Word ultimately points to Christ. The Word should not just be received on one day of the week, therefore, the Sabbath rest refers to each and every day that we hear, read, and ponder its truth. The command is not about keeping the law. It is about knowing Jesus. Father, it is easy to get buried under rules and regulations but help us to find true meaning and freedom as we find our rest in You. Amen