“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
Exodus 20:8 NIV
The Sabbath was a big deal to the Jewish people. It meant no work, absolutely none. It involved everyone. Rest was demanded; you had no choice. It was a statement of faith. If you loved God, you observed and honored the Sabbath.
What's changed? Has the word of God gone dull? Absolutely not! The word of God is active, living, never-changing! So where do we fit into this fourth commandment today? We are to keep the Sabbath Holy!
Sabbath means “to rest.” First of all, this means we are to rest. We have somehow determined in this society that it is wrong to rest. We need to join a committee, plan an activity, sign the kids up for ball (soccer, basketball and baseball-- all at the same time), be reading the latest novel at all times, fix gourmet meals, compete for the yard-of-the-month club, advance a career, and be lean, trim men or women of God. Whew, that made me tired just typing it!
In all the madness is God able to get your attention? Take some time off, my friend! You deserve a break. Give yourself a rest. Take a Sabbath for yourself. Slow down! Take time to enjoy life! Take a long walk on a long pier! Watch the world go by for a while! Be still and know that He is God!
Remember that every day is God's. If you are one of His children, your life is in His hands. He is taking you to where there is no more time, but for now your time is His. If you want to fully follow His will (and why would you not?), you will need to take time to rest. God's creation example to us is to rest. God didn't need the rest, but it was an opportunity for Him to, by example, reflect on all He had made. We need that time to renew ourselves, as well as our relationship to Him.
And keep the Sabbath (your time of rest) Holy. God is Holy, so be Holy in all you do! What is wrong to do on Sunday is wrong the rest of the week. Don't have two standards. Be the same on Monday that you are on the Sabbath. Keep your time of rest holy! Whatever you do to “unwind,” do it to the glory of God. Let others see the reflection on your face and know that you have spent time with the Father. Your time of rest will renew your strength and keep your heart pure.
Finally, look forward to the Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4). One day Jesus is returning to redeem God's people from this world of sin and disappointment. He will wipe away our tears and clothe us with eternal joy. We will enter our “Sabbath rest.” It means the final rest; the one for which we have waited, the one where we share our inheritance with Jesus!
Now that is what I call rest! Are you ready?
For more of my thoughts, check out my personal blog at
http://www.ronedmondson.com where I write on issues such as marriage, parenting, church and leadership.
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I may not see in front of me, But I can see for miles around when I look over my shoulder, and Lord, it`s clear. You`ve brought me here, So faithful every step of the way. What can I do but follow you, For You are the Way, the Truth, the Life, And You`ve promised never to leave me, My Savior, my friend, From beginning to end. 
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