Sabbath

In The Bible Feast Blog today, the guest blogger, Sonyita Scales writes about our rest that is critical for us to live fully. Read more: http://thebiblefeastblog.com/?p=266

I would like to add some additional thoughts to this blog on Sabbath.

We were created for worship–we will worship something or someone. Do we need to worship on a certain day–how do we worship? What is Sabbath or Sabbath rest?

“The Sabbath is a day when we enter a dance with God and others and experience a beauty that takes our breath away,”  stated Dan B. Allendar in Sabbath.

Shabbat (Sabbath) means:

• Be Still
• Reflect
• Celebrate  

1. Jesus honored Sabbath rest to exemplify to His disciples, “Now you rest”

• Read Matthew 11:28-12:8: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light…your disciples are doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath…the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

A yoke is “a rabbi’s view of the law, or God as Father.” Jesus was saying to take the view of my Father and rest in knowing that He is your Father. He also enjoyed the food which he picked from the field and healed on the Sabbath at some religious groups bitter discretion.

2. God honored Sabbath rest to exemplify to His creation, “Now you REST”

• There was evening and morning, day begins with rest, not labor. On the seventh day God finished his work…He rested…God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested (see Genesis 1:5; 2:2-3).
• God set the rhythm of life in Shabbat (Sabbath); He rested in a sense of completion and satisfaction to enjoy the work He had completed.

3. We may honor the Sabbath rest and exemplify to those around us:

• Be Still and hear (see Psalm 46:10; Psalm 131:2).
•  “Today if you hear His voice…the word they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (see Hebrews 3:7, 15, 4:2, 7).

Be still and hear God: Hear His voice–hear His Word: when we hear His Word to mix with faith, His Word produces life. Sit quietly and ask the Lord to speak to you concerning a scripture passage. Journal the impressions inside:

• Reflect and wait:  “There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest…for the word of God is living and active” (see Hebrews 4:9-13).

Not to reflect leads to unrest and unbelief. Reflect on the good which the Lord completed in your life today or this past week. Journal your reflections:

• Celebrate and breathe: “The seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord…on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed” (see Exodus 31:15-17). Rested/refreshed means, “to breath, to be refreshed as if by a current of air.”

“As soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied” (see Numbers 11:25). “Spirit rested” rested means, “to settle down after drawing a good breath.”

“On the first day of the week…Jesus stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you…when He had said this, he breathed on them and said to them ‘Receive the Holy Spirit'” (see John 20:19-23).

CELEBRATE and breathe to enjoy life: The breath of God breathed life into man and continues to breathe life in us. Breathe and rest in Christ’s for ministry to others. Breathing to relax releases anxiety to enjoy God, others, surroundings, and life. Journal how you may rest in Christ as He uses you to minister to others:

 

Sabbath is a day to enjoy life. Worship the person of Christ, His creation, the beauty of His handiwork, the artistry of life with a joyful, celebratory, and heart attitude. He wants to bless, which produces life, health, and joy!

I am learning to enter my Sabbath to rest in Christ, His finished work on the cross, His creation, His beautiful handiwork in creation, the beauty of my surroundings, and the food for the day with the people I love. I am also learning to enter a day each week to “Be still, reflect, and celebrate.”

Ask yourself: How will I be still and hear? How will I reflect and wait? How will I celebrate and breathe to enjoy and rest?