Sunday is our Sabbath. It is a day of rest. A day of worship. A day that is set apart, and does not look like the other days of the week.
Many folks have asked what our Sabbath looks like. I think that is a fabulous question and one that I will try to answer here.
We worship corporately on Saturday nights at The Village Church. This allows our Sunday Sabbath to be completely free of time restraints, "getting ready", and traffic just to name a few things that can sometimes take our focus off the Lord.
On Sunday, everyone can wake up whenever they want. :) As one who loves to sleep in a little, I love this part! Although as a mommy to three little ones, sleeping in means sleeping to maybe 8:00a.m. There will be a day, or so I am told, when I can sleep in as long as I want...but until that day, I rise early for my sweet little ones:)
We gather as a family everyday for Family Worship time. David leads us through a book of the Bible, we sing and we pray. This is the same on Sunday, except we are allowed more times throughout the day to gather as a family for teaching, praying or singing to the Lord. Now you may be thinking, don't you do this every day? Yes! We do teach and sing and pray to our King everyday. But gathering as a family throughout the day is not always an option during the week. Thankfully, David works from home and we part-time homeschool. This allows for Family Worship time to occur more often on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. But in general, our Sabbath has a different feel. Those times are not dependent on time frames. For instance, we can gather as long as we wish because David does not need to return to work by a certain time. It is a sweet, savored time with our Lord as a family.
It is great to plan for this day throughout the week. Perhaps on the Sabbath more time is spent around the table, rich in food and conversation. On this day, we have favorite slow-cooker recipes that we enjoy. Special meals that may be favorites of the kids. Ask one child during the week what they may want to eat for Sabbath that weekend. And prepare it with a joyful, thankful heart with said child teaching how Jesus is the true Bread of life. John 6:35 "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'"
Watch as this particular child beams at the dinner table ready to eat his/her chosen meal. Set apart...
Some have asked if we "work" at all on the Sabbath. We are not strict with the "do-nots", but rich in the "do's". Do praise Jesus in song often on this day. Do eat slowly, remembering that Jesus is the true Bread of life, the Bread from heaven. Do read your bible slowly and thoughtfully....hanging on to just one verse if that is what you feel the Spirit calling you to do. Do find times throughout the day to serve other family members. Do encourage one another in the Lord. Do share your memory verse with us and tell us what the Lord is telling you through His word. Do take long hikes discovering all of His creation. Do sit and read as long as you want to...
I do cook on the Sabbath. I do go to the grocery store on the Sabbath. I do clean up spills and vacuum if it is needed. I do care for my children in areas where they need help. We do discipline and train on this day. But all of this is done with a remembering of the day and NOT with an attitude of "I shouldn't be doing this because this is my Sabbath day!" Jesus says in Matthew chapter 12 verse 11 "Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
Our children know when it is the Sabbath. They joyfully exclaim that "Today is our Sabbath!" We have set this day apart not because WE think it is a good idea, but we do think it is a good idea. We set this day apart because it is a commandment from God. A commandment in the same list as "do not murder...do not lie...do not commit adultery...do not take the name of the Lord in vain...do not steal." Many times the Sabbath is overlooked as a commandment. People often seem weary, burnt out, in despair. In talking with many believers who have come to this point, it is interesting to note that they are/were not observing the Sabbath day. Please do not hear me saying that if you observe the Sabbath ALL will be well in your life. But when you know that it is sin not to, but you still chose not to practice it, you are living in sin...and it will eventually be brought to light. See, the Lord knows that we need rest. His ways are good. He is faithful. Trust Him.
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"Psalm 34:8
The Lord is faithful and has blessed our family with sweet memories and joy on this day set apart...this holy day. There is no magical way that we practice the Sabbath in our home. We do talk of it often. Teaching our children, and ourselves, that this is good for us and brings glory to the Lord.
My hope and prayer for you, is that you would be obedient to our great God and King and remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Just as you know that lying or stealing or committing adultery is a sin against a holy God...so is not remembering the Sabbath day. And now you know...and knowing, I have heard, is half the battle. :)
May you find rest in Jesus. May He bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you...
1 comment:
so thankful for your post. thanks for putting it up. The "dos" section is especially helpful. I was actually thinking on this idea the last couple of days as I have been in the gospels. In Luke 23:55-56, Jesus had just died, and the women who were present at Jesus' crucifixion rested because it was the Sabbath. Of all the days that one might want to take control and do something, that was the day. But they rested in obedience to the commandment. Amazing.
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