Day 26: Sunday Rest

entire series here

The idea of a day of rest is often scoffed at as legalistic, old fashioned, ridiculous and unnecessary.

Yet, that is not how God sees it.

And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. (Genesis 2:2)

The fourth commandment states...

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep 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, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20: 8-12)

A sabbath...a day of rest, a holy day-set apart to God. A day of worship.

As Christians, we are absolutely not bound to fulfill the 10 commandments because Christ has fulfilled the law. But, the principal and practice of a day of rest is actually a very good idea.

In our culture we have conditioned ourselves to go-go-go. We push ourselves at a frenetic pace 24/7, and there is supposedly some merit in that.

There is no time to pause and reflect. There is no time to let our bodies and minds rest.

Rest is renewing-to our bodies and souls. Renewal brings with it...joy.

This week, today, I am encouraging you to take a day of rest.

Choose to not do any but the most basic chores. We often look at Sundays as a catch-up day or a day to get a head start on the week. Forego the laundry and the cleaning and instead, rest.

Choose to worship corporately. To sit under the sound of the teaching of God's Word. To praise the Lord in song. To worship in prayer.

Choose to relax and rest. (maybe even take a Sunday afternoon nap...)

Choose to make this day about God and His pleasure.

Choose to enjoy family and friends in a low key manner.

For some ministry families, Sunday is not a day of rest. I would encourage you to find another day for your rest day.

If you keep from doing what pleases you on the Day of Rest, on My holy day and call the Day of Rest a happy time, and respect the holy day of the Lord, and if you honor it by turning from your own ways, and from following your own desire and by not talking in a foolish way, then you will have joy in the Lord. (Isaiah 58:13-14a)

There is nothing to be lost, but much to be gained, from taking a day of rest.

Rest well...