The word Sabbath means to rest from labor, a day of rest, to cease, to celebrate. It is a day that God created as a gift for us. It is one day a week when we don’t need to strive, we don’t need to work, but can instead rest, delight, and worship. It is a day that was woven into creation even before sin came.

In Genesis 1, God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it (people, animals, plants, etc.) and it took Him six days. Then in Genesis 2:2-3, it says, “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.”

God Himself rested! He is limitless so His rest was not one that resulted from exhaustion but rather one that resulted from working and wanting to delight in that work. From the beginning, God models a rhythm of work and rest knowing that we, as humans, would face the addiction of productivity.

Not only did God rest, but He made this day of rest holy. It is a day that has been set apart. Sabbath is not only a day to stop working, but it is also a day to celebrate the work that has already been done and worship God as a result. It is a day for rest, delight, AND worship.

**From the beginning, God models a rhythm of work and rest knowing that we, as humans, would face the addiction of productivity.**

It is also a day of trust. It is very easy for us to think we have to constantly be available, that we can’t stop because then chaos will happen. What if instead of stressing about doing all of the things, we chose to trust God to be in control? What if we trusted Him to keep the world running? Because isn’t that what He does anyway? We are not God, nor can we be, nor should we be. We do not have to be doing all of the time, we can simply be.

It is one thing to take a day off of work and lay on the couch all day. It is another thing to take a day off, spend time with God and His creation, worship Him, and do things that fill your cup, things you delight in. This is Sabbath, a day dedicated to the Lord.

It sounds great, right? A day to rest, delight, and worship? Sign me up! Yet humans have a track record of not keeping the Sabbath. In fact, God made Sabbath one of the 10 commandments, knowing how important it was. That means keeping the Sabbath is up there with do not murder! Here’s the command about Sabbath in Exodus 20:8-11:

”Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 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.”

Notice how this command begins with the word “remember.” That leads me to believe that the Israelites were prone to forget it! They would get so caught up with work, with productivity, and with daily tasks that they needed a command to rest. Can you relate at all? So, God commands His people to observe the Sabbath because God rested during creation. Then, in Deuteronomy, the 10 commandments are repeated after the Israelites wander in the desert for a while. We see the Sabbath command in Deuteronomy 5:12-15, and for the most part, it reads the same.

However, here is what verse 15 says, “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.” So now, the Israelites need a reminder that they are no longer slaves and that they can keep the Sabbath.

Doesn’t it seem like they would remember on their own that they aren’t slaves and they are free? While in their minds they knew that, they still had it in them to go back to their old ways. They were tempted to return to their slavery of work because it was what they knew. God called them to more. He set them free and they can now rest, they don’t need to go back to being slaves. Can you relate at all?

Now, I will say, many people think we do not need to keep the Sabbath because it is the only one of the 10 commandments that is not repeated in the New Testament. It also isn’t commanded in the New Testament to drink water but it is still wise to do that! Plus, keeping the Sabbath day might not be a direct command, but Hebrews 4 talks about God’s rest being available to us.

In Hebrews 3, it says the Israelites failed to enter the rest because of their unbelief. So, Hebrews 4 says His rest is available to those who have faith and believe. To enter God’s rest, we must hear his word and accept it. What Hebrews 4 is saying is that when we hear of Jesus, when we believe in him, we enter His rest. God’s rest has now become available through a person, not a day. God’s rest has become available to us through Jesus.

We do not need to strive to earn God’s love. We do not need to earn anything. Jesus has paid it all. We can rest in him because of all he has done for us. Because Jesus is always with us, we can always rest in his presence. This type of rest doesn’t mean always ceasing to work, it means always ceasing to strive/earn. This is a Sabbath state of mind, to always rest in Jesus’ presence and our salvation in him.

In Exodus, Sabbath was remembering creation. In Deuteronomy, Sabbath was remembering freedom. In Hebrews 4 and today, Sabbath is remembering Jesus and his work on the cross.

What does that look like practically? How can we rest throughout the week when so many things that are trying to get our attention? Here are just a few things that I have implemented that help me rest in Jesus. Your list might be different, but this is just to give you some ideas.

I deleted my work Gmail and Google Chat from my phone. It is only accessible on my computer
I recently got the “Brick” device which blocks certain apps on my phone for certain parts of the day so my phone is not a constant distraction
I downloaded the app “Prayminder” that gives me notifications throughout the day as a reminder to pray. You can customize the reminders to pray for different things like people, events, etc.
I started reading “Invitation to Solitude and Silence" so I can practice being still before the Lord, sitting with him, and resting in his presence

As I have been starting to implement these, my addiction to productivity has been revealed. Rest seems like it would be easy, but I have been going and going for so long that it is going to take a moment for the dust to settle. If that happens to you, don’t give up. Keep going. Keep practicing. Keep resting.

We can work hard to honor God, but we do not need to work to earn love. We can rest in the work He has done for us. We can rest in His presence. We can keep a Sabbath state of mind by ceasing to strive and resting in his presence every day. Though, personally, I will also be keeping the Sabbath day because it is delightful! It may take time to adjust, but we are all Holy in Progress, and He is with us in the process.

With love,

Erica

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Soldier, Athlete, or Farmer

Holy in Progress