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,
neither you, nor your son or daughter,
nor your male or female servant, nor your animals,
nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
Exodus 20:9-10
Do the Ten Commandments still apply this side of the Cross?
Most believers today would respond, “Of course.” We have no other gods but the one true God. We do not lie, steal, or commit adultery. We keep those – or at least know we should, and we try to do so.
But when it comes to keeping the Sabbath, we may shrug and dismiss this one as legalistic, a cultural tradition, or a by-gone religious ritual. Yet stiff-arming anything in Scripture is dangerous at best, and heretical at worst. There are still ten commandments – not nine – and respect for the text as God’s revelation requires even the 21st-century believer to consider its application to life.
As we defend the 4th Commandment, most of us would most likely need to admit our failure to keep it. Our lives are full. They are fast-paced. Sunday is often a catch-up day. We may feel simultaneous guilt that we aren’t keeping up with our responsibilities, and also that we aren’t honoring the Sabbath!
If, like me, you were a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan as a kid, you recall that scene in Farmer Boy when Almanzo and his siblings were forced on Sunday afternoon to sit upright for hours on end – solemn, serious, quiet. If that’s the Sabbath, count me out!
As we wrestle with this commandment and what keeping it means for today’s believer, I’d like to offer a few musings (while absolutely acknowledging this is an area of struggle for me):
- Perhaps keeping the Sabbath should be viewed more as a gift to be accepted, than a yoke to be worn. If our boss gave us a day off, would we choose instead to stay at our desk? If your professor came into class and sent everyone home to enjoy the day, would you insist on staying in your seat?
- Perhaps God ordained it because He knew we needed it. My husband, the engineer, faithfully reads the manual cover to cover when we get a new car. He is diligent to change the oil, hoses, and filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions. He does this so our vehicles will operate with maximum efficiency, performance, and longevity. As our manufacturer, God knows what is best for us – better than we know ourselves. A weekly day of rest may well improve our efficiency, performance, and longevity.
- The call to “remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy” should certainly include worshiping in community with other believers. We need that mutual encouragement. We need to lift our voices together in praise to our great God, and be challenged by the word He gives to our pastor. Choosing to neglect corporate worship is an invitation to the enemy. We leave ourselves vulnerable without regular fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. Make this a priority. Set the standard for your family and your children.
- Rest need not look like it did for the Wilder family in the 1800s. I heard once that if you work with your hands, you should sabbath with your mind, and if you work with your mind, you should sabbath with your hands. That means, then, that the mechanic might read a book or listen to beautiful music, while an accountant might tinker with his car or build in his wood shop.
- Busyness may well be an idol. Ticking those things off our list may cultivate a sense of accomplishment that quickly spirals downward to pride. Ask yourself if you are forfeiting sabbath rest to serve the idol of busyness – and allow yourself to be convicted by the answer.
- Choosing to make the Sabbath a day of rest may spur us on to more intentional productivity in the other six days. Making a plan early in the week will have us working diligently, in anticipation of our day off to worship and rest.
- Take a look at places to hike or visit in your local area. You may find that getting away from home to enjoy God’s creation on the Sabbath is the best way to both worship our Lord, and resist the temptation to tackle tasks on your to-do list.
This month, as we study the Bible’s teachings on WORK (our Write the WORD topic) – and lean into the challenge to embrace it – I believe it’s appropriate to begin first with a focus on rest and honoring the Sabbath.
How do you choose to dedicate your Sabbath to worship and rest, as you respect the 4th commandment?
In this week’s devotional video, Laura unpacks John 17:4 as Jesus prays in the garden the night before the cross. We hope you will listen and be challenged to embrace the WORK God has for you to complete!
If you have not subscribed to the Cross My Heart Ministry YouTube channel and our email list, we hope you’ll take a moment today to sign up for both. As a subscriber, you’ll be one of the first to know when Laura publishes a new blog post or video. It costs nothing, but is a great way to show your support for the ministry!
