Sabbath Rest

For six days God labored to create the heavens and the earth. Light and dark, land and sea, plant life, light and dark, day and night, all manner of animals, humans, and more beside: God created it all. And then,

2God completed all the work that he had done, and on the seventh day God rested from all the work that he had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all the work of creation. 4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. (Genesis 2:2-4, CEB)

Apparently God wasn't finished creating even then, though, for on the seventh day he created something else, something holy: sabbath rest. God made the time of rest not because he was exhausted and needed a long nap, but so that he could marvel at the wonders created while preparing for what would come next. God created sabbath rest and made it holy not to become a divine couch potato passively relaxing because of those six very difficult days. Instead sabbath rest was created to make a space for adoration, praise, and thanksgiving of God's matchless wonder, mercy, and grace. God created and hallowed sabbath rest as an invitation to his children to respond to his glory and love with humble service.

All these many years later, sabbath rest is still part of the fabric of creation and of our faith. It is still an invitation to adore, give thanks, praise, and serve the God who creates, loves, and sustains us all. Far more than an opportunity to breathe a deep, weekly sigh because of a day when we don't have to go to work; a day to shop, watch TV, and play video games: sabbath rest is a challenge to thank, praise, and serve God even in our dangerous and changing world. For the next several weeks we will be thinking about sabbath rest: its role in our lives; its place in our spiritual journeys; and why God calls us to it in the first place. Join in this spiritual adventure as we, together, discover how to live in the hope and comfort of sabbath rest in a tumultuous world.

Questions for reflection:
• What prevents you from observing sabbath rest?
• What changes can you make in your life to make space for sabbath rest?

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