Remember the Sabbath

Remember the Sabbath
Author: Barb Barnhart, Preschool Coordinator
Ten - Part 5
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– Mark 2:27

Often, when someone mentions the Ten Commandments we automatically think of rules. In our society, rules are taken to the extreme and even added to, causing strife and defeat in our lives. In reality, to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy is one of two positive commandments given by God in the Ten Commandments. In it, God places emphasis on rest for the person in order to bring about a deeper relationship between God and His creation.

Rest is something that we all crave and need. Because of our society, we are almost afraid to seek rest for fear that someone will see us as lazy and unwilling to give more of ourselves than is really needed.

As a teenager, my pastor challenged the entire congregation to memorize the 23rd Psalm. We were in the midst of a sermon series inspired by the book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. The key point in his series was that the Good Shepherd goes with us throughout life’s journey. 

Psalm 23 helped me to picture how the Good Shepherd is with me:

The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.

This Scripture allows us to visualize this walk through the time of rest that God has mandated for us. In Him, there is nothing that we lack. He guides us to the places that bring rest to our bodies and souls. God knows that the renewing of life is through the leading of Jesus day-by-day. This journey to rest is purposeful and brings about refreshment to our souls. It is a promise of God’s faithfulness to be with us in good and bad times, pursuing us all the days of our lives until the time of our ultimate rest with Him.

This makes a day of rest sound wonderful! A time focused on being with God should not be difficult, yet I struggle to make this happen on a consistent basis. Pastor Tim shared that this should be a time to stop your work for a day, rest, delight in doing what you love, and contemplate God and your relationship with Him. This week, I encourage you to practice this Sabbath day. Choose a day as your Sabbath and follow through with it.

– Billy Graham