June 11
It may not be easy to work a true Sabbath day into your busy schedule, but if you are able to, it can be a wonderful gift from God.
Three Thoughts
The Pharisees turned the concept of rest into work that they had to keep up with. Jesus reminded them that Sabbath was invented in order to free them instead of keeping them tied down. You and I weren't built to grind seven days a week. We all need a moment of rest, and even though I struggle slowing down, it's always beneficial when I do.
MARK 2:27
God built rest into the rhythm of creation itself: six days of work, one day to pause. As we learn to honor the Sabbath it's a way of declaring that the world won't fall apart without us. God runs the universe just fine while we take a break. That's something all of us need to hear from time to time.
EXODUS 20:8-10
We worship forward movement, always needing to do more. When we slow down it feels like we're falling behind. But God commands us to "be still" every once in a while, and I don't know about you, but I think God knows better than I do. So stop for a moment this week. Slow down. Breathe. Know that He is good.
PSALM 46:10
Two Quotes
Pastor and author John Mark Comer on hurry:
"Hurry is a form of violence on the soul."
Pastor and author Mark Buchanan on rest:
"Unless and until we rest in God, we will never risk for God."
Prayer
Dear God, I confess that a lot of the time I treat rest like a luxury instead of something you command me to do. I act like the world depends on me when clearly it doesn't. Teach me to rest as worship to you this week. Teach me to be still without becoming anxious. I trust that you are holding everything together. Amen.
Question
When was the last time you took a day to slow down? What's keeping you from doing it this week?
See you next Thursday,
Zach
P.S. I'm teaching a workshop on "How to Read the Bible" at VOUSCon in Miami on Saturday. Say hi if you're there!