My Sabbath Story
My grandfather wouldn't go fishing on Sundays. "You might pull up the devil," he'd say.
Sunday was for worship, rest, and visiting, but certainly not for work and even some kinds of recreation. And even though I've never pulled up the devil on a Sunday fishing trip, his old fashioned ways held a certain rhythm that I'd like to duplicate in the living of these days. What used to seem boring and antiquated has deep spiritual meaning for me as our family struggles against the culture of doing to take Sunday for being.
Exodus 20 teaches us that God labored and rested and that we should do the same. Sabbath is a gift and keeping Sabbath bears much fruit in our lives. What can Sabbath do for you? Find out this weekend by considering this challenge:
1. Have a Saturday night meal with your family. No TV, no cell phones, no iPods, and no video games.
2. Go to bed early and pray that your night of rest will be good. Commit your sleep and dreams over to God. Offer up the next day as one of rest while trusting God to watch over the things you won't be doing on your Sabbath. Set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night at bedtime this week!
3. Rise early and share breakfast with your family or a good friend.
4. Attend worship in the morning.
5. Plan for a nap, games with your children or grandchildren, intimate time with your spouse, or a relaxing activity in the afternoon. Resist the urge to work, check email, or answer the phone.
6. End the 24 hour Sabbath as you began - with family.
I'd love to hear how you keep Sabbath. Share with me via email, or post here. And if you're in the Metro DC area this weekend, I invite you to include First Baptist Church Gaithersburg as your place of worship on Sunday morning. You'll find fellow pilgrims who are weary and wounded, ready to experience the life changing grace of Jesus. And if you fall asleep while I offer the sermon, that's ok, too. It just means you needed the rest and I'm glad to help you get it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Pastor Gary
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