The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)
I have a confession to make - I am a Sabbath-breaker. What I mean is, I don’t really have a day when I simply rest. For that matter, I haven’t taken a day off to fish or golf in months. I could be in the bay at Perdido Key right now, catching sea trout and Spanish mackerel from my kayak. Instead, I’m writing this blog. And it’s my birthday for crying out loud!
I know it sounds like I’m whining. And I am, a little. But the truth is I like what I’m doing. I’m passionate about continuing to develop “Church on the Edge,” and the recent addition of podcasts and interviews have come with a steep learning curve for my technologically challenged brain. But I’ve got to let go of it all from time to time for rest, renewal, the flow of creative juices, and, frankly, to maintain my sanity.
Jesus clearly taught that the Sabbath was God’s gift to man. And while the Sabbath was a specific day in Israel for rest and reflection on God’s goodness and provision, I believe Jesus gave new meaning to it. Christ was not shackled by the man-made rules and regulations attached to the Sabbath by the religious leaders. He understood that religion was meant to lift people up, not weigh them down.
I don’t believe it is necessary to designate a particular day as the Sabbath for Christians. I do, however, believe that all of us need times when we break off from the daily grind (even if we enjoy the grind!) and, to coin a phrase, “let go and let God.”
When was your last Sabbath? When was the last time you just let everything go, if only for a day or even part of a day? Rework your calendar. Find some time for a Sabbath rest. You need it.
For my part, it’s a beautiful day here, and I’m headed to the beach.
In Christ,
Dan
Like your vision is good.
Welcome in Jesus name Iike to work with your ministry please come and preach the gospel in Jesus name Amen