By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [ceased] from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:2-3
 
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping 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, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11
 
Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Mark 2:27-28

When I was growing up in southwestern Michigan, our family practiced Sabbath observance. We prepared our Sabbath meals ahead of time, cleaned the house, washed the car and filled its tank with gas, and prepared our Sabbath clothes before sundown on Friday. At sundown, the TV was turned off and other secular things were put away. If we listened to music, sacred music LP records were played from the hi-fi or it was tuned into the Andrews University FM radio station (WAUT). Sabbath was much more than "not doing the secular things." Sabbath was a time for bible study, reflection, visiting with friends and relatives, enjoying nature (God's Creation) through walks and picnics.

Sometime during my college days or early days of work, I lost sight of the significance of the Sabbath. With all of the hustle and bustle of cramming for an exam, raising a family, school functions for the kids, errands, home repair projects and lawn care, who has time for Sabbath anymore? But now I look back and say, how have I done it without the cycle of the week including Sabbath moments for the past 25 years? Did I stop because I thought it was a legalistic attempt at being perfect in God's eyes? Was I so obsessed with achievement that I thought I needed to sacrifice my Sabbath?

Several months ago, Pastor Dan gave a sermon on the "Purpose Driven Life." In his sermon, he showed us how our drive to be busy, always with a goal, we have lost sight of some of the more important things in life like rest, reflection, and being happy in the moment. Why must there be a purpose for everything we do? If your goals are starting to own you, maybe it's time you took a step back and re-evaluated your life. Are your goals serving you, or have they become insufferable, bovine taskmasters?

I believe this fits in with the message of Sabbath observance. Jesus said in Matt. 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." I have found many ways to come to Jesus for rest and they are some of the best ways to spend a Sabbath; turn off the pager, cell phone, TV, computer, etc... What do we do with all that silence? How about taking a walk or nap? Or maybe visiting with a friend? It can also be as simple as breathing in and out, and just being in the moment. Sabbath observance does not have to be a legalistic list of what to do and what not to do. It is a gift from God and he begs us not to forget it. When we cease our daily labor we give permission for something else to grow in its place - love, friendship, prayer, touch, singing, rest, regeneration.

Dear Lord in Heaven, thank you for giving me the gift of the Sabbath. Help me to weave it back into my life as you intended. May my soul be mended, my family strengthened, and you be honored. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen

Additional reading:
Muller, Wayne, Sabbath; Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives, NY: Bantam Books, 1999.

Contributed by Richard
Sunday August 10, 2008
Liturgical Year A Week 37
Sunday Gospel reading:
Lectionary 19 (Proper 14)
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost