Sunday Soaking: Sabbath Rest

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.
Hebrews 4:9-10

The choice to accept Christ is an embrace of HIS rest and a letting go of my own efforts to earn salvation. Coming to Christ means I lay down my striving and doing, and lean into His provision. I acknowledge my identity in Christ—and that alone—is my ticket into heaven. Nothing I do (and nothing I do not do) will get me in.

As I practice Sabbath Rest, it can be a weekly reminder of my salvation decision and a renewed resolve to walk in this belief. Sabbath Rest is a weekly celebration: my salvation is complete because of Jesus!

It also stirs hope for His return. Eternity will be our ultimate release from the burdens of this world. But we don’t need to wait for heaven to enjoy rest in Him.

Often we imagine keeping the Sabbath as a throwback to blue laws, with all businesses closed on Sunday and many other activities prohibited. I’m reminded of the scene in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Farmer Boy, when children were expected to sit still and straight in their Sunday clothes for hours on end. Sabbath in those days must have seemed more like a punishment than a celebration.

Changing the connotation for Sabbath may come slowly. It begins as we embrace the day as a gift received from God, rather than a set of rules set out by God.

We’ve come to treat Sunday as a catch-up day: laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping. Or it’s a day bustling with activity: church, teaching Sunday School, ministry meetings. We fill our Sabbath with doing for God rather than spending time with God.

Those old habits cannot be changed immediately, but perhaps gradual transformation can happen as we accept a Sabbath Rest challenge. Consider incorporating just one of these suggestions into your Sunday:

• Choose to make it a no-laundry day.
• Schedule one hour outdoors with your family. Take a walk, go for a bike ride, enjoy a picnic, or just sit in the sunshine. Worship the Creator in His creation.
• Curl up with a good book.
• Pray a joyful Psalm back to God.
• Tell your salvation story to a friend or family member.

I’ve heard it said that those who work with their hands should sabbath with their minds, and those who work with their minds should sabbath with their hands. Essentially, then, professors should chop wood on Sunday and woodcutters should read a book!

We should do something different on Sunday than what we do Monday through Saturday.

Holy means set apart. Sunday can be embraced and celebrated as holy because it is different than every other day.

Are you ready for some Sabbath Rest?

In this week’s devotional video, our special guest Cassie Montgomery of Cross Church takes a closer look at Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus addresses the people of Israel who are frustrated and overburdened by the legalistic “dos and don’ts” of the Pharisees. Listen now as Cassie unpacks truths from scripture and shares insight into finding true rest in Him:

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