Good morning…
Though I love writing with God most every day, I sense the LORD teaching me the art of Sabbath-keeping.
I have told you before, I like taking a break from writing our blog posts on rare, random mornings when I feel drawn not to write. But even this one simple statement is very revealing. There are three “I’s” in one sentence.
“I have told you…”
“…I like taking a break…”
“…when I feel drawn not to write.”
This sentence is all about me and my experience as a daily blogger. Yet Sabbath-keeping is the exact opposite. Keeping the Sabbath is not about me; it’s all about God.
We are each designed to flourish as we rest in the sacred rhythm set out by our Creator before the beginning of time. The art of Sabbath-keeping is about us learning to live the fourth of God’s ten commandments.
You and your family are to remember the Sabbath Day; set it apart, and keep it holy. You have six days to do all your work, but the seventh day is to be different; it is the Sabbath of the Eternal your God. Keep it holy by not doing any work… For the Eternal made the heavens above, the earth below, the seas, and all the creatures in them in six days. Then, on the seventh day, He rested. That is why He blessed the Sabbath Day and made it sacred (Exodus 20:8-11, VOICE).
To develop the art of Sabbath-keeping, we shift our focus from ourselves to our God. “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a, NASB1995). Remember the Sabbath Day. Set it apart. Keep it holy. Allow the seventh day to be different than the other six. Don’t work. Rest with God. On the seventh day, our LORD God rested, blessed the Sabbath Day and made it sacred.
In what new ways might we prayerfully set apart the Sabbath Day, tuning our lives to God’s restorative rhythm?
…Sue…
