Reflections: We all need Sabbath

When God sends me the same message from multiple sources, I realize I must need to hear it! Lately that message has been about Sabbath. My husband and I realized a while back that we were in a habit of using Sunday afternoons to catch up on whatever we didn’t get done the week before, or needed to do in order to prepare for the upcoming week. Since that realization, after gathering with our church for worship, we try to spend Sundays enjoying time outdoors if weather permits, and reading or just relaxing in the evening. 

The theme of Sabbath is found throughout the Bible, starting with the Genesis account of Creation. God didn’t rest because He was tired; He rested to enjoy what He had created and declare it good, and to set a pattern for us. 

Genesis 2:15 describes God giving Adam meaningful work, of sharing in God’s creativity by tending the Garden of Eden. After the Fall, though, work became difficult and burdensome. Ecclesiastes expands on the concept of meaningful work, as the writer regrets a life of toil without enjoyment and reminds us that appreciation of our Creator is what matters most. 

Some of us are fortunate to have jobs we enjoy; other jobs are harder or riskier. Some essential work is rewarding in terms of helping others, but can be stressful if the outcome is tragic—firefighting, law enforcement, etc. Regardless of where we fall on that spectrum, we can thank God for providing for our needs through our work, ask his help in doing it well, and then follow his example of rest, consciously taking time to appreciate and hear from our Creator. Those who help facilitate worship services, or whose work keeps the rest of us safe and well, are much appreciated as they serve, and I know several who consciously schedule rest time on another day of the week.

Lysa Terkeurst shared in a recent devotional, “We all need space to exhale.” Another writer described Sabbath as “setting aside time to recall that [God] is good.” Isaiah 58:13-14 tells us to call the Sabbath a delight, finding “joy in the Lord.” Lysa explains that the “observer” of Sabbath simply follows a rule; but the “preserver” of Sabbath embraces God’s purpose for it. In other words, the concept of Sabbath doesn’t have to be legalistic. The Pharisees made that mistake, accusing Jesus of breaking Sabbath when He performed a healing. They even had rules about how far one could walk! Jesus, on the other hand, framed everything in serving and honoring God. 

Our work takes on new meaning if we view sharing the Gospel as our primary job, becoming “Christ’s Ambassadors” as the Apostle Paul says. The writer of Hebrews applies the concept of Sabbath to a life of working and bringing others to Christ, after which, we have the promise of a “Sabbath-rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 8:9).  

Devotional writer J.W. Earley compares the need for Sabbath with the need for sleep: “Where Sabbath emphasizes our similarity to God, sleep emphasizes our natural, created limitations.” Scripture tells us God never sleeps, but we’re not God; we must sleep in order to be at our best for the next day’s duties. Sleep is a gift from God for recharging human capabilities, while Sabbath, on the other hand, is a choice to relax and connect with the Creator, just as He rested to admire his creative work. As I’m becoming more consistent with that choice, I’m so glad God gave us that example!