I can’t recall when it first dawned on me that the Hebrew children, under Egyptian slavery, worked for 430 years without a single day off. Pharaoh and his taskmasters were no different but had to make sure that building projects continued as planned.
However, once God freed His people, He gifted them a special day to enjoy rest and rejuvenation.
The commandment to honor the Sabbath is not a harsh rule. Instead, it’s God’s gift to His people.
“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it” (Exodus 20.8-11).
Let’s consider how the Sabbath, a gift from God, benefits us. Remember that to truly appreciate this gift, we must incorporate it into our lives and observe it regularly.
Spiritual Refreshment
Observing the Sabbath or Sunday lets us pause our everyday tasks and spend time on activities like prayer, meditation, Bible reading, and church attendance. This helps us reconnect with our faith and strengthen our bond with God.
Family and Community Bonding
The Sabbath or Sunday is about enjoying time with family and friends.
I always love hearing families share about their favorite meals that mom would make on Sundays. From hot dogs to pot roast to chicken, these are the things that remind us we belong together.
Rest and Rejuvenation
In our busy world, a day of rest is good for our body and mind. The Sabbath helps us regain energy, lessen stress, and boost overall health.
Reflecting on Values
The Sabbath invites us to pause and self-reflect. During this time, we can consider our beliefs and actions by taking a spiritual inventory. It helps us examine our priorities and align them with God’s plans.
Respecting Tradition and Identity
Over the years, I’ve noticed that skipping worship services can become a family habit.
If grandparents regularly attend, but parents are less consistent, their children and grandchildren might stop going altogether.
Taking part in Sunday worship will help the entire family stay connected to our religious traditions.
Sabbath for Humans
Jesus and the religious leaders disagreed because his disciples weren’t observing the Sabbath, according to the authorities.
Jesus responded with a valuable lesson that still applies today.
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
The Sabbath or Sunday observance is a gift from God. Shouldn’t we embrace it?
Let’s use it to highlight the ways, as discussed earlier in this article, that it is meant to bless us.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 