Shut It Down

How busy is your calendar? Thanks to technology, we use the calendar on our phones to set appointments and tasks. It's a handy tool because we can see what we have to do, and set reminders. We try to squeeze as much in as possible, including weekends.

In our house, we also have a yearly wall calendar for everyone to write down appointments, tasks, and upcoming events. Every day is filled with some activity. I'll stop and look at the whole calendar and begin to feel overwhelmed. Every day has something on it. 

With today's fast pace, we don't leave room for one very important task- keeping the Sabbath. A day to rest- to shut it down.

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. – Hebrews 4:9-11

In the Ten Commandments, among the things not to do, there are a couple of commandments we must follow- honor thy mother and father (#5, which we follow most of the time), and the one before that- keeping the Sabbath day holy. The Sabbath is a full day of rest and worship. Exodus 20:9-11 says-

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Some denominations follow the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Most call for Sunday to be the day of rest.

Where is that on our calendars? Are we truly observing the Sabbath and taking the full day? It is a very important part of serving God. And it is not just about our church obligation or religious duty. Jesus clearly states that the Sabbath was created for our benefit. "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath"- Mark 2:27

What does rest look like? We have to always be on the go and be busy. It's not a normal rhythm in our culture today. So does that mean we have to spend the whole day in prayer and scripture? I know some people that do just that. But it doesn't have to be that strict. It can be as simple as experiencing God's beauty that is all around us. That may be enjoying nature, or reveling in the beauty of our family and friends and enjoying time with them. Enjoying all that God has created.

I came across an article at the start of the new year in Relevant Magazine called "Why Keeping A Sabbath Should Be Your New Year's Resolution." It had suggestions of fun and restful things to do on the Sabbath. You can do things that bring you joy- taking up a hobby, reading, playing or listening to music, fishing, golfing, even taking a nap. When was the last time your scheduled that in your planner? 

The Sabbath is also meant to be in community with others. Enjoying each other's company. When I was growing up, most Sundays were spent with extended family and sharing a big meal. Do that with your family or friends. It can also be a time to share with others those things that bring you joy (well, all except the nap. Do that on your own!)

Take another look at your calendar now. Block out that one day every week to do the one thing that God commanded us to do- keeping the Sabbath and rest. Just shut it down!

In Christ's love,
Rob