S.O.S.
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:9-11
In the busyness, noise and anxiety of our technology fuelled world, the concept of Sabbath is having something of a comeback. But what is the Christian Sabbath and how should we understand/practice it today?
Sabbath (a saturday on the Jewish calendar) begins with God, who, after working to create the world in six days - rested on the seventh. In the Old Testament law, God through Moses commanded Israel to observe a day of rest in harmony with God’s creative rhythm. It was a day of trust - that God would provide in spite of no work. A day of rest - looking forward to the ultimate rest of the promised land.
Should Christians practice Sabbath? Well, Hebrews 4 points us in a direction (perhaps a surprising one). The answer is… no and yes. Christians don’t practice Sabbath like Israel did. There is no New Testament command to keep the Sabbath holy. Instead, as Hebrews 4 describes, in the work of Christ we look forward to a promised rest in the New Heavens and New Earth.
Should we still ‘sabbath’? Yes, but not like Israel. It doesn’t need to be on Saturday. But a day of rest is wisdom for busy humans who struggle to trust God. We rest to reflect, remember, rejoice in and rest in God’s grace.
But there is also a reality (in view in Hebrews 4). There is no true rest on this side of heaven. Even during our rest we will be ‘working’ in fighting sin, loving God & loving others. There is a promised land to come. So hear the words of the preacher of Hebrews, “let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
For more on Sabbath and rest - check out a Sermon from 2023.
https://myvillagechurch.net/media/xy76scz/work
For Today:
Pray:
Hebrews 4:9-11
In the busyness, noise and anxiety of our technology fuelled world, the concept of Sabbath is having something of a comeback. But what is the Christian Sabbath and how should we understand/practice it today?
Sabbath (a saturday on the Jewish calendar) begins with God, who, after working to create the world in six days - rested on the seventh. In the Old Testament law, God through Moses commanded Israel to observe a day of rest in harmony with God’s creative rhythm. It was a day of trust - that God would provide in spite of no work. A day of rest - looking forward to the ultimate rest of the promised land.
Should Christians practice Sabbath? Well, Hebrews 4 points us in a direction (perhaps a surprising one). The answer is… no and yes. Christians don’t practice Sabbath like Israel did. There is no New Testament command to keep the Sabbath holy. Instead, as Hebrews 4 describes, in the work of Christ we look forward to a promised rest in the New Heavens and New Earth.
Should we still ‘sabbath’? Yes, but not like Israel. It doesn’t need to be on Saturday. But a day of rest is wisdom for busy humans who struggle to trust God. We rest to reflect, remember, rejoice in and rest in God’s grace.
But there is also a reality (in view in Hebrews 4). There is no true rest on this side of heaven. Even during our rest we will be ‘working’ in fighting sin, loving God & loving others. There is a promised land to come. So hear the words of the preacher of Hebrews, “let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
For more on Sabbath and rest - check out a Sermon from 2023.
https://myvillagechurch.net/media/xy76scz/work
For Today:
- Do you feel a deep need for Sabbath?
- How do you think about rest? What does that look like?
- Lock in a regular time of rest where you reflect, remember, rejoice in and rest in God’s grace.
Pray:
- Praise the Father who needs no rest.
- Give thanks for Jesus who worked on our behalf and works even now to intercede for us.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others work and rest, making every effort to enter the ultimate rest to come.
Posted in Save Our Sundays
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