God’s rules are for our good and for his glory. Right. I know this in my head; my heart is a little slower on the uptake.
Over the last couple of years, three books I read converged into a perfect storm of theological truth on a very important spiritual law.
The one about keeping God’s Sabbath rest.
I’m not just talking about petty rules concerning which day to set aside for worship, or what you can and can’t do that day. I’m talking about a lifestyle free from the idol of control.
This is a tough one for us, immersed as we are in a culture of constant activity and achievement – but God honors those who honor him.
Here’s how the pattern took shape as I read:
- Make two lists, one of activities that fill you up, and the other of things that drain you. Do plenty of recharging activities, and reduce the draining ones as much as possible (from Wayne Cordeiro’s Leading on Empty).
- Discover which of the nine styles of following God fits your preferences and personality. For example, are you a contemplative, an enthusiast, a naturalist? (From Gary Thomas’ Sacred Pathways).
- Reflect on what stirs your affections for Christ, and what robs you of your affections for him. Understand that your struggle to rest has idolatry at its root. (from Matt Chandler’s To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain).
These dots connected into a lovely truth: The very thing that rejuvenates me is also the thing that draws me closer to Jesus.
For me, that translates into spending time in nature, reading poetry, or singing and playing music. For you, it might mean a robust theological discussion, rowdy corporate worship time, or sitting alone quietly in a room with your journal.
In other words, observing the Sabbath is not a matter of legalism, as we may protest. Keeping the Sabbath is an important part of a healthy, obedient lifestyle. Keeping the Sabbath brings restoration to our souls.
Resting is good for our bodies, too. Science demonstrates that athletes who take one day off their workouts each week perform better in the long run. Human beings are not machines, and we do well to pay attention to the rhythms of nature for the sake of our physical health and mental/emotional stability.
God is a good Father, and every good father establishes rules for the well-being of his children. We enjoy life more when we restrain our pace and experience our moments without rushing through them.
Here’s the biggest reason to obey God in the area of regular rest. Resting is about trust, and trust means letting go.
In ceasing from our own labors, we acknowledge that it isn’t up to us to run the universe. We are not in control. He is.
Keeping the Sabbath means saying yes to self-care. It says we trust God’s sovereignty. And it draws us closer to him even as it refreshes our bodies.
That’s a pretty liberating restriction, don’t you think?
