Saturday in the Word | Keeping the Sabbath

We’ve talked a good bit about rest, knowing our limits, and the Sabbath this past week. Having a rhythm of rest is not only important and vital to our living life, it’s something that God desires us to honor and obey. For Christians, the Sabbath is significant because it represents a day and time of rest and worship.

Several verses in the Bible speak to the importance and observance of the Sabbath.

Genesis 2:2-3 ESV

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Exodus 20:8-11 ESV

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Isaiah 58:13-14 ESV

If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Mark 2:27 ESV

And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Each of these verses of Scripture reflect the importance of the Sabbath as a time for rest, worship, and reflection on God’s creation and His works. Sabbath is a time to draw closer to God as we try to prioritize spiritual matters over our worldly concerns.

When we keep the Sabbath holy we set apart this day as special and dedicated to the Lord, honoring its significance as a time of rest and worship. The concept of holiness in the Sabbath is rooted in God’s command and the example set by Him. By observing the Sabbath we can honor its purpose as a gift from God for rest, reflection, and renewal, which ultimately leads to deeper spiritual growth and connection with Him.

Here are some practical ways we can approach this:

1. Set Aside the Day: Choose one day each week as your Sabbath, just as God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). Mark this day on your calendar, setting it apart from your regular activities.
2. Rest from Work: Follow the command in Exodus 20:8-11 by refraining from regular work and chores. Use this time to rest physically, allowing your body and mind a break from the weekly grind.
3. Attend Worship Services: Gather with your faith community for worship, prayer, and fellowship. This is an opportunity to connect with others, share in collective worship, and grow spiritually.
4. Engage in Reflection and Prayer: Spend time in quiet reflection, meditation, and prayer. Consider reading Scripture or spiritual literature. This deepens your understanding of God and your relationship with Him.
5. Embrace Family and Community Time: Use the Sabbath as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with family and friends. Share meals, enjoy activities together, and create memories that honor God and one another.
6. Delight in God’s Creation: Take time to enjoy the beauty of creation. Whether you go for a walk in nature, observe the changing seasons, or appreciate art, let this time inspire gratitude for God’s handiwork (Isaiah 58:13-14).
7. Avoid Busy and Stressful Activities: Resist the urge to engage in tasks that produce stress or anxiety. Instead, focus on activities that bring peace and joy.
8. Reflect on Your Week: Use the Sabbath as a time to assess your spiritual growth over the past week. What did you learn? What can you do differently? How can you grow closer to God?

Integrating these practices into our Sabbath helps us honor it as a holy day, dedicating time to God, seeking rest, and nurturing our spiritual well-being. This will enrich not only our life but also the lives of those around us.

Until my next post…

Be salty, stay lit.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

You can now find my articles in The Christian Grandfather Magazine.

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