To keep the Sabbath

It’s Monday Grace!

Take a break!

When I go to the grocery near me I often hear a manager talking with the check-out person, telling them what time they can take their break. Usually, it means a half-hour lunch. Then, back to work.

That’s how many people view this command to keep the Sabbath. They are to take a break once a week. Of course, many don’t even do that much. And, in many jobs, the one or two days off each week are far from regular. Employees have to look at the schedule to see what days they have off. So much for making plans!

Of course, the Jews had all kinds of rules surrounding the day of rest. They could only do certain things. They had to avoid certain things. The day of rest became a day of rules. Many believers today have their own rules for the day of rest. And, of course, not all believers agree on which day they should take, Saturday or Sunday. Working people might have to call Wednesday their day of rest.

All of this misses the point of the Sabbath. The point was that there must be an end to our work. It is too easy for us to scramble around in life trying to satisfy everyone and meet every need. It is too easy to feel overwhelmed with responsibilities and service. It is too easy to see ourselves as the providers and protectors and comforters. So we work and work hard. But we usually feel frustrated and inadequate.

The Lord has always wanted His people to know that He is their provider and protector and comforter. Those who belong to the Lord will be cared for by the Lord. He wanted to bless the people of Israel, and He wants to bless you and me.

Again, this commandment fits so well with the message of God’s grace. I have known too many believers who have never entered the Sabbath rest. They work hard to try to please the Lord. They strive to make up for the things they did in their past. They worry about doing enough to deserve Heaven and eternal life. They lack assurance and hope—all because they are so busy working.

But the Lord says we are to rest. Not just one day a week! Now, because of Jesus, we are able to rest in His work, His power, His love. Everything we truly need in our relationship with Him He has provided.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:2–4, NKJV)

Read that again. His “divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”

Now, rest.