What would you say if I told you that you probably have actually kept the Sabbath at least once in your life without even realizing it?
So, what does Sabbath look like? I really can't tell you what Sabbath should look like for you. You see, Sabbath is not something to be served. Sabbath is a gift, from our Creator, for us! We were not created to serve the Sabbath. The Sabbath was created after humankind was. The Sabbath serves us. It is for our good!
I like to think of it as a date night with God.
When I go on a date night with my husband we might choose to do, or not do, very different things than you and your spouse. Would it be fair for me to impose my ideas of what a date night 'should' look like on you? Sure there are a few things that everyone would agree would totally NOT work as a date night. And, there are a few things that MUST be included, or it can't be called a date night. For example Both spouses must be present. You can't go on a date night by yourself! It is the same with Sabbath. There ARE a few ways that the Sabbath must be kept, but how that looks can really vary.
This season we are in is a sabbatical of sorts. It is a time to cease from the usual and slow down, reflect, and meditate. A mental health day! A reprieve.
The Sabbath is not meant to be a burden. In fact, I think it is fair to say that if keeping the Sabbath feels like a burden to you, then you are probably doing it wrong!
God wants to be number one in our lives. But, we have to make a living. Somedays we get so busy just surviving that we don't have much time to just sit and listen. It was two weeks into this quarantine when I woke up and realized that my mind had slowed enough that I could think! I didn't realize how busy I had become. We do this every week. We are slaves to our jobs, to the clock, to routines. All the things that demand out attention right now.
When you are getting ready to go on a date night with your spouse what do you do? Do you make sure you have things prepared ahead that the children might need, so they won't have to interrupt you? Do you make sure your work will not interrupt you? Maybe you turn off your cell phone or ask someone else to work for you that evening.
What about vacation time? Do you plan ahead? Some people fix or buy foods that are easy to prepare so they won't have to spend time cooking from scratch at vacation time. I usually don't think much of cooking on Sabbath. We usually get easily prepared foods for that day, but if I have to heat it up I don't worry about it. Once we went camping and we were really roughing it. We had to build the fire pit, gather wood, get the fire cooking, and then cook a full meal. That was work!!! It was then I realized that the man running all-around gathering sticks on the Sabbath wasn't just picking up a couple twigs on the ground as he hummed a little praise song.
God wants our full attention. Just for a few hours, he doesn't want us to serve, or be controlled by anything other than Him! What controls us? The clock? Dishes? Laundry? Work? School? Not today! The Sabbath is a time to not have to constantly look at the clock! We try to put an -ish after times on Sabbath. We don't set the alarm clock on Sabbath. We gather to worship whether it is on Zoom, or in our backyard with family at noon-ish. We set an approximate time to start, but it isn't pushed. There is no ending time at all. Why should there be? There are not very many things that can't wait a few hours. We have all day to quiet down and rest. To turn off everything we possibly can and be still.
Sabbath is a delight. God wants us to look forward to our date with Him. When my girls were little they were only allowed to eat candy on Sabbath. Sabbath is a feast day! But, it isn't like Thanksgiving feasting. Thanksgiving has way too much work to be considered restful! When you go on a date do you have to cook? Even if the celebration is at home, the cooking is usually done before the date and the dishes are done later- maybe even the next day. That is no different than Sabbath. We usually have plenty of healthy snacks and quick, easy foods to grab and eat. If someone is hungry, they eat. If someone is tired, they sleep. We read, snuggle, do puzzles, walk by ourselves or with others, sing, pray, play games, etc. Sometimes we watch movies, shows, sermons, etc. Sometimes we are tired of the noise and need quiet. But, those are things we do. Your way of celebrating may be entirely different than ours. The goal is to not serve, or be controlled by anything except God. I know that is for all of life, but realistically we do have to go to work, and school and have time restraints. Money is a major stressor for me. I appreciated not having to do anything that deals with money on Sabbath unless it is giving money (as in tithing or giving).
I will never cease to be impressed by how church services can start and end at precise times. How does that work? How can they start exactly at 11 and end exactly at 12? Where is the waiting on God? Where is the lingering in His presence? What if God wants to change things up a bit? Is there room in our schedules for that? Can God call you up on Friday and say, "Hey, can you leave work a little early and get ready, I want to take you somewhere special tomorrow?" What would you say? What would you leave at home? What would you take? What would you turn off? What would you turn on?
So, as you sit at home with your family and you wish you could be busy doing and going, take a minute and ask Him to show you another way. May God use this time to teach us how to rest. I know I need practice. How about you?
