There are a lot of conversations in our culture about Sabbath. Rightfully so. Jesus provides a glimpse of Sabbath I haven't seen before until I studied the O.T. passages on Sabbath. Jesus came to set us free from the "law of sin and death." Jesus restored our relationship with the Father while fulfilling the law to its fullest. Jesus does the same with Sabbath. He never condones it. He reinterprets for his contemporaries and for us. It is a grace day. It is a day of imitating God in His creation REST and a day of extending "freedom" to all by RESTING from work. This is what Jesus did on Sabbath: he rested in God and on occassion extended grace to those afflicted by restoring them, liberating them from their bondage. He always practiced it. Jesus reminds me as well--my REST is in him. This is why I need Sabbath. I need to rest in God, reflect on the life I now have in Jesus, and celebrate that blessing with others! This is my Sabbath rhythm!
I hope you'll find time to read a few books on Sabbath. My favorites are by Lauren Winner, Marva Dawn and Mark Buchannan.
At our collegiate directors' retreat we will explore this topic of Sabbath as self-care and the influence of personality in shaping our unique Sabbath rhythm. I look forward to the dialogue and the opportunity to REST with each of you. Stay tuned to this blog for an opportunity to particpate in a community of Sabbath observers. We will begin our Sabbath rhythm as a community of believers starting June 3 - July 8. Each week I will post a Sabbath devotional beginning June 3. After our Sabbath rest, we will be posting our thoughts and comments on this blog.
Blessings.
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