Sabbath Keeper or Breaker?

Keeping the Sabbath. For me, it is the most difficult commandment to follow. What about you?

Why is it difficult?

Because I see things.

I see dirt on the floor that needs to be swept up, or clutter that could use organization. I see projects that need to be done.

I decided to buy some shelves to organize tablecloths in the pantry and every time I pass them in the kitchen, it is a discipline to look the other way.

But God makes it very clear in the Bible to “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 male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns”  (Exodus 20:8-11).

God didn’t ask us to do anything he hadn’t done himself. After creating the world in six days, he rested on the seventh day. He wants us to follow his lead.

But I confess that I consistently break this commandment and it took a nasty three-week (and counting) respiratory ailment to finally realize I might need a day of rest per week.

So on Sunday, I tried it.

After church and lunch, I rested on the couch half of the afternoon. I will admit that I was fidgety at times. But with the golf tournament on in the background, I studied my Bible, and read three chapters of a spiritual book. I even turned down going to the driving range with my husband. Instead, I floated in the pool, one of the most enjoyable, relaxing things I know to do. As I admired all the cloud formations, I prayed and thanked God for the many blessings he provides.

I made it to 4:51 p.m.

That’s when I had to make dinner. But it was a good start to a discipline I hope to follow every Sunday from now on.

Why is it important to rest? Here are some thoughts based on REST.

R: Restoration.  By resting and not running, we restore our health, through our spiritual reading, we restore our relationship with God, and through our time relaxing with family, we restore our familial bonds.

E: Energy. We may think we know what’s ahead of us during the week, but only God knows what will come our way. Resting on Sunday builds up energy that we may need for a difficult situation ahead.

S: Sanity. Taking a day off from the demands of the world and the busyness of life is therapeutic and helps you keep your sanity during the busy stretches. Life is a balancing act, but when one thing throws off the balance, how effectively will you handle it, when you are tired and fried from never taking a break?

T: Time.  The older you get, the faster time seems to fly, but when you take a Sabbath rest, life slows down, even if it’s for a day. It’s a time to reflect on your life, your family and your faith. It’s a time to give thanks.

In my head, I know that keeping the Sabbath is no different than any other commandment I need to abide by, but it needs to find it’s way to my heart. The bottom line is that God has asked us to set one day aside for him. Out of his love for us, he wants us to rest, and out of our love for him, we need to be obedient to his command.