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Putting God first assures us that we will be ushered into restoration, edification, stability, and tranquility...R.E.S.T.
What is the Lord’s Sabbath rest and what does all of this have to do with it? The preparedness and intentionality of surrendering to the Lord’s Sabbath is about more than resting from your work week or going to church on Sunday. The Lord’s Sabbath is about restoration, edification, stability, and tranquility (R.E.S.T.). The Sabbath restores your virtue of strength, edifies with intimate understanding of the truth, stabilizes your being through clarity of purpose, and usher’s you into the perfect peace of the Lord’s cleansing tranquility.
This will require that we sacrifice our determination to work in our own will and way, yielding all of our ambitions completely over to God. Flowing against the cultural tide of doing things in our own strength will involve a resolute boldness and conviction. The fallen nature of our hearts work in a counterintuitive way to the Sabbath rest. The internal dynamics of our fleshly mind clings to the restlessness of control, anxiety, discontentment, and addiction.
That resistance is natural in battling the principalities and powers of this world. When you’ve finally had enough of pushing your narrative and pursuing purpose in your own strength, you’ll come to the end of yourself. When the fuse reaches the dynamite, it explodes, destroying everything within the radius of its blast zone. Wouldn’t you rather rest than rumble? Defuse that hazardous behavior and submit your restlessness to the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus Christ.
How To Observe The Sabbath Days Practically
Any workaholics in the room? Anyone here need to detach from the everyday hustle and bustle of their daily busyness? As new testament Christians how should we observe the Sabbath day in a way that honors the Lord of the Sabbath while also recharging our batteries as well? Is the Sabbath a single day or an extended period of time that we set for ourselves? These are all good questions that we’ll explore, while defining the biblical representation of the Sabbath day along with its practical applications for today's believers.
Exodus 20:8
“8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work” (BSB)
Whatever kind of work we do throughout the week, it is inherently clear that we should only work up to six out of every seven days. If we observe this text literally, we may say that contextually, the seventh day should be Saturday. So why do we worship on Sunday, which is the first day of the week? We’ll touch on this more later but the idea I want to focus on is that though we must work (2 Thes. 3:10), we should not feel guilty for working but only within the guidelines set by the Lord. Working seven days a week is not beneficial according to God.
Furthermore, God sets the precedence for not working on the seventh day in the way He models this same behavior in Exodus 20:11:
“11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. “ (BSB)
Scriptural Reflection
God did not need to rest but rested from His work of creation so that we would model this behavior after Him. If God took a day off, then we should too. If God made the Sabbath a day that He set aside for His glory, then we should too. But what does it mean to consecrate this day to the Lord? What should our Sabbath’s look like? Why are they so important, outside of being a day off of work?
Let’s answer these questions by examining the purpose behind the Sabbath day. In Exodus 16: 4-5, the Lord tested the Israelite community after their complaints of starvation in the Desert of Sin:
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” (NIV)
This was a test of their faith. In the same way, God is asking us whether we trust Him enough to provide all of our needs if we only work six days, consecrating the seventh to Him. Can we sit still long enough without the anxieties of restlessness interfering with trusting in the Lord’s provision? It may not be easy but it’s necessary.
If you don’t answer that work call, accept that urgent email request, chase that unexpected lead, or check something off of that ever growing to-do list, are you truly missing out? Or can we trust to honor the Lord on our day off by disconnecting from work and plugging into His grace, mercy, provision, and restoration? In fact, putting God first assures us that we will be ushered into restoration, edification, stability, and tranquility (R.E.S.T.).
The 5 R's of R.E.S.T.
To do so shouldn’t be a legalistic obligation. As marvelous as the mechanism of our bodies may be, God did not create us to be machines, hardwired for equipment failure. Proper maintenance and updates are necessary to function at a consistent level of excellence. So instead of looking at the Sabbath as a day of rules and regulations, observe it as a benefit to your well being. Let’s look into how to do that.
Relax. There are many different ways to relax. Give your body a break. Go get a massage, go swimming, go for a walk, watch a movie, play games, etc. Do something relaxing that doesn’t require work so that you can have some relaxing entertainment. Unwind and enjoy the benefits of relaxation that prevent anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and sleep deprivation. Don’t just think about relaxation. Practice it!
Reflect. This is a time to meditate on the current state of things and where you want to go. What interpersonal conflicts do you wrestle with and which ones have you overcome? What is your proximity to God and how can you get closer? Who and what do you need to forgive? Think about the good and the bad. Really focus on those critical areas of life that are thriving or that need improvement.
Recouple. Unplug from every distraction and reconnect with God. We are in a relationship with Jesus. As the bride of Christ, we must pull ourselves away from the busyness of life to pursue intimate time with Jesus in our private place. The daily grind can sometimes draw us away from spending special time with the Lord. Joining ourselves back to Him helps us to detach from those things that separate us from His much needed presence.
Relate. Many people and things can compete for our time and attention throughout the week. It’s important to disengage from everything else vying for our focus and energy so that we can intentionally connect with our loved ones. Whether it's a spouse, children, friends, or personal time alone, there are others who desire our affection and want to replenish the virtue we pour out into others. Don’t rob those closest to you because you’re too exhausted or frustrated to have true fellowship and community with your loved ones.
Rejoice. God is good! Even when life isn’t where you want it to be, God is worthy of all of our praise. We should be thankful, praising the Lord for His goodness, protection, and provision. He cares for us in a way no one else can. To recount His goodness should fill our love tanks past the brim so that we are energized and looking forward to the week to come.
Thoughts For the Road
As you progress in your week, I pray that you meditate on all this information. Closely evaluate the scriptures, praying and asking the Lord for further clarity concerning these concepts. During this holiday season, focus on Christ, His Birth, and the joy and salvation that has arrived with His arrival. Review these 5 R's of R.E.S.T. as to put into practice these intentional acts of service, love, and restoration. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
Make sure to stay tuned in for this next blog post so you don't miss out on your word of encouragement...We'll be discussing what Jesus says about the Sabbath; how it should be observed and what day it should be observed on.
Scripture of Emphasis:
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Thank You and God Bless!
Thank you for reading this blog. Your support and contribution is treasured here. Please continue to share this content so that God may work through us to be a benefit to others. I invite you to leave a comment and stay tuned in for the next blog. I pray that this blesses you and honor’s God. Let’s continue growing together as Kingdom Citizens in Christ. Show love, be kind, and trust in God. Thank you and God bless.
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