Then he told me, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for Sabbath.”
Mark 2:27
Busy, Busy, Busy
Car rider line at 3:00 p.m. Soccer practice for child #1 at 3:30 p.m., and gymnastics for child #2 at 4:00 p.m. Pick up child #3 from the babysitter at 4:30 p.m. Then, go back to pick up child #1 and #2 after practice. McDonald’s drive-thru for a quick dinner before taking each to Wednesday night church activities at 6:00 p.m.
Then, we add the holidays into the mix. There are the Christmas parties to attend, the different houses we have to visit, the amount of turkey and desserts we’ll consume. You would think today, after the holidays, we would finally have time to breathe. But here comes New Year’s Eve, then back to school…and we’re in the car rider line again.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? This is an insider view of the family calendar every day!
The Gift of The Sabbath
But just as He worked on Day One through Day Six, and rested on Day Seven, God has intended for us to do the same. Better yet, He has gifted us with the Sabbath as a day to set aside time for rest. So, what does it mean for us to stop in the name of Christ’s love?
Sabbath isn’t just another day to fill with everything the world tells us we need to be doing. Rather, it’s a time to focus on our physical and spiritual well-being.
Rest, Refuel, Refill
While we need to take the initiative of minimizing physical activities and commitments, we also need to be equally mindful of dedicating time to rest spiritually and be with God. These moments present us with the opportunity to limit those daily distractions so we can truly hear God, understand His Word, and continue to build our relationship with Him. This rest and focus will refuel us, refilling our cups so we can truly carry out our calling and purpose in the Kingdom of God.
As you prepare another month’s calendar, how will you be intentional to rest physically and spiritually during your Sabbaths? What better time to start dedicating your gift of Sabbath than by recognizing this as a priority in 2022!
Now What?
If you are a family with young children, set aside time after church to discuss the Bible story from Sunday morning’s lesson. Single friends, carve out quality quiet time with God. Married couples, make prayer time together a priority. Turn off your phone, put away your “to-do” list, and be intentional with your Sabbath. Stop in the name of Christ’s love so that you may receive it.
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