Read: Genesis 2:1-3 (NIV)
“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
On the seventh day, God rested. The universe was complete, and He took a step back to simply enjoy what He had made. The Sabbath is our opportunity to do the same. It’s an invitation to pause our labor and to rest in the beauty of God’s finished work.
The Sabbath is still as much a command today as it was when it was first given to Moses. We cannot make exceptions for our modern, fast-paced society. By intentionally stepping out of the high-paced, industrial world, we can enjoy God’s gift of creation, do good works as Christ did, and celebrate our deliverance from the bondage of sin.
The Ten Commandments are stated as absolutes; they allow for no contradictions. The Sabbath is a commandment and a gift from God, ruled by Christ. It is a vital duty for us as Christians, just as much as prayer. By honoring the Sabbath, we enter into a rhythm of rest and holiness, a partnership with God that sustains us for the week to come. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God—a taste of the eternal rest to come.
Pray: Father, we praise you for your finished work and for inviting us into your rest. We commit to honoring the Sabbath as a command and a gift. Help us to slow down, to see your goodness, and to celebrate our freedom in you. Amen.
