Summer Sabbath - Week 3
The Sabbath – in Hebrew, Shabbat or שַׁבָּת. For the Jewish people, it is the day of rest that begins on Friday before sunset and concludes on Saturday after sundown. The word Sabbath simply means to cease or to rest, but it is far more than meaning inactivity or laziness. When God created all that we know, Genesis 1 tells us that, on the seventh day, He rested. His resting, however, was not because God was tired. It was a rest that showed that everything that needed to be created was complete, and it was a rest that allowed God to enjoy and engage with His creation.
In Mark 2:27, Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” What Jesus meant by that is that the Sabbath was never meant to be a burdensome law to keep just of the sake of keeping a law. The Sabbath was created for man’s benefit.
Christians obviously are not under the law but under grace. For us, Sunday is our day of worship, reminding us that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it (Matt 5:17). Thus, Christ would call us to worship Him, not out of obligation, but from the heart. A Sabbath rest is needed for all of us, especially as we head into the summer months; but how do we accomplish that need?
1. Work out your summer schedule to keep Sunday worship as a priority. If you need to travel on Sunday, remember that we have a 9:00 am service. Attend it with your family, then head out on your adventure.
2. Step away from making worship a “have to” and talk with your family on how it is a “get to.”
3. Genuinely rest on Sunday. Use this summer to find ways to enjoy Christ and His blessings on Sunday. Meditate on one thing that you learned in Sunday school or from Pastor Steve’s sermon. Use your lunchtime to discuss the worship service. Use Sunday’s text as a devotion with your family during the week.
4. Visit another church while on vacation. While it might be intimidating, this practice will help you keep worship as a priority but also help you be sensitive to what guests are feeling when they visit Westwood (we want to be friendly, but sometimes we are friendly with those we know, not those who are new!).
5. Find ways to serve during the summer. Sharing in service allows others to have a rest also.
6. Make sure that you are resting on Sunday. I am afraid that we sometimes need a vacation from our vacation because we are so exhausted. Therefore, rest. Think about God’s creation and enjoy it. Focus on the goodness of God. Rest. Cease. Relax. Enjoy.
In Mark 2:27, Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” What Jesus meant by that is that the Sabbath was never meant to be a burdensome law to keep just of the sake of keeping a law. The Sabbath was created for man’s benefit.
Christians obviously are not under the law but under grace. For us, Sunday is our day of worship, reminding us that Jesus came to fulfill the law, not abolish it (Matt 5:17). Thus, Christ would call us to worship Him, not out of obligation, but from the heart. A Sabbath rest is needed for all of us, especially as we head into the summer months; but how do we accomplish that need?
1. Work out your summer schedule to keep Sunday worship as a priority. If you need to travel on Sunday, remember that we have a 9:00 am service. Attend it with your family, then head out on your adventure.
2. Step away from making worship a “have to” and talk with your family on how it is a “get to.”
3. Genuinely rest on Sunday. Use this summer to find ways to enjoy Christ and His blessings on Sunday. Meditate on one thing that you learned in Sunday school or from Pastor Steve’s sermon. Use your lunchtime to discuss the worship service. Use Sunday’s text as a devotion with your family during the week.
4. Visit another church while on vacation. While it might be intimidating, this practice will help you keep worship as a priority but also help you be sensitive to what guests are feeling when they visit Westwood (we want to be friendly, but sometimes we are friendly with those we know, not those who are new!).
5. Find ways to serve during the summer. Sharing in service allows others to have a rest also.
6. Make sure that you are resting on Sunday. I am afraid that we sometimes need a vacation from our vacation because we are so exhausted. Therefore, rest. Think about God’s creation and enjoy it. Focus on the goodness of God. Rest. Cease. Relax. Enjoy.
Posted in Summer Series
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