The Way of Jesus - wk3

"Sabbath"

Dr. Gary Singleton

How much rest do you get? I think for most of us the answer would be “not enough.” According to a recent Gallup poll, 40% of Americans get less than the recommended amount of sleep. And when it comes to vacation time the average U.S. worker only gets 16 paid days off – and 57% of us leave unused vacation days on the table! CNN referred to America as the “no vacation nation.”

And yet God commands us to rest. In fact, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) is one of the Ten Commandments. The word “Sabbath” means literally “to rest.” God is telling us that rest is holy.

For the past few weeks we’ve been talking about following “The Way of Jesus.” We are to follow Him in prayer, and in reading scripture, but we’re also to follow Him in rest. Scripture tells us that Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to rest and to pray.

If even Jesus needs to stop and rest in the midst of a chaotic world, don’t you think we need rest, too? Join me this Sunday as we take a look at the Sabbath … God’s command to rest. Rest is holy. The way of Jesus is the rhythm of sacred rest.