“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. ³ So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” Genesis 2:2-3. God created the Heavens and the earth and all that was in them. Then He said, “Let’s Rest.” I am paraphrasing here. 🙂 If God rested after six days of work, how much more do we require it?

I think we are unaware of how emotional, mental, and physical issues drain our bodies, minds, and spirits.

That is particularly true in times like this. We can become so completely fatigued in every area that it seems no amount of rest revives us. We are akin to a battery that has been recharged several times and is simply beyond taking a charge. It is too depleted to ever really be fully charged again.

There are days when I absolutely feel too depleted to ever get fully charged again. Lol.

God did not design us to be Energizer Bunnies, though. He even tells us in the scripture that it is nonsense to stay up late and toil senselessly. “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2. He designed us to need rest. He modeled that for us on the 7th day of creation. And, when the God of the universe creates a day specifically for rest, we too should be saying, “Let’s rest.”

Rest is important enough that God wrote about it in excess of 100 times in the Bible. It is so important that Jesus encouraged the disciples to rest. “The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:30-31.  Rest is so important that God promises to provide rest to us. “And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14. And one of the ways in which God has done this is by creating a Sabbath.

God established a day of rest. He called it the Sabbath. And there are 100+ verses regarding the Sabbath in the scriptures. Over 50 of those appear in the New Testament alone.

If the God of all creation felt we needed rest so badly that He created a day for that very purpose, should we too not consider it important? And, if God wrote about the Sabbath in His Holy Word in excess of 100 times, should we too not consider it important? So, why then, are we not saying, “Let’s rest?”

The Sabbath day of rest is clearly important to God. Yet, this commandment seems to hold very little significance to us.

In Deuteronomy 5:12, God tells us to “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you”. He says it again in Exodus. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” Exodus 20:8-11. This is not just to be a day of rest. It is a day that we are to keep HOLY!

God will bless those who keep His Sabbath. “This is what the LORD says: “Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Blessed are all those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.” Isaiah 56:1-2 (NLT).

The Sabbath is to be a Holy day of rest. It is something that we need, and God provided. It is also a commandment.

There is no specific day of the week that is marked off as the Sabbath. But, it is to be a Holy day, nonetheless.

The Sabbath is the one day out of seven that God asks us to refrain from work. It is the one day out of seven that He asks us to rest. It is the one day out of seven that He asks us to keep Holy. And it is the one day out of seven that He asks us to reserve specifically for Him.

God knows us. He knows that we pack our lives full of work. He knows that, even in our leisure, we toil in vain and become overwhelmed. God also knows that our idea of a day of rest and His are probably very different.

Our idea of a day of rest probably contains some things that are not very Holy. And are not very glorifying to God.

God is asking us that we reserve one day to worship Him and to rest from the toils of life. It is for our good and His pleasure. Isn’t He worthy of one day a week?

The rest that God will provide when we keep the Sabbath will strengthen and rejuvenate us. It will make us healthier. It will allow us to be more rested. We will then be less tired and angry. Thus, we will be more patient and understanding. This will also help us to do our jobs better because we will be more alert. In turn, it will make us better testimonies to God, enabling us to serve Him in a more effective way.

Everyone benefits when we keep the Sabbath day of rest. Why then aren’t we doing it?!?! I think it is time we all say, “Let’s rest!”

Father God, forgive us when we fail to keep Your commands. Forgive us when You ask us to submit to those things that You have devised for our good and Your pleasure. Father, help us to appreciate the significance and importance of the Sabbath. Help us to desire to submit to your leading and to be obedient and honoring children. Thank You for always having our well-being at heart and for establishing ways to take care of us, even before we knew You. And Father, be glorified by our keeping of the Sabbath day of rest. I pray that we will be a testimony to those around us and to those who do not know You. We pray this in Your Son’s precious and Holy name. Amen.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. This life, its trials, our sin, and their consequences can all be very draining. But Jesus wants to take your burden and lighten your load! “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30. Once you make the decision to trust Him, your burden will be much lighter. Then, by keeping the Sabbath, we are able to maintain a light load.

Once you have prayed that prayer, or if you have any questions, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.