Remember the Sabbath

Labor Day

The holiday celebrated in America on the first Monday of September, and to many, a reminder that summer is coming to a close and fall is quickly upon us. But to be perfectly honest, I really didn’t fully understand why we celebrate this day, I just enjoyed my paid time off from work each year. So, when you don’t know something, it’s always best to research, read and gain knowledge. Here is what I discovered, in case you didn’t know the full story either.

Picture it!

Streets buzzing with energy, as the American economy begins to explode with prosperity and purpose. It’s the late 18th century and new inventions, such as the cotton gin, had cities booming and busting at the seams with starry-eyed dreamers looking for a better life for themselves and their families.

The push for progress continued well into the 20th century, but well before that era, those same men and women began to organize and revolt against a system that was underpaying and overworking the employees upon whose backs the industries were built. Welcome the birth of the labor movement.

This was not a gentle, giant negotiating for better work environments, fair wages and child labor laws. This was a loud, boisterous, protest marching, striking on the front lines kind of movement, and from what I read in my quick research, some moments became violent and bloody. It was a tumultuous time in our nation’s history.

By the late 1880’s, the cry grew so loud among the many labor groups, Washington began to take notice. As the demand for workers rights continued to grow and develop, a couple of men, (I say both, but which man had the idea for a day of celebration is apparently hotly debated), from different union groups, decided the country should take a day and celebrate the hard working men and women of our nation. And so, Labor Day was first celebrated in New York City, but it did not become a federal holiday until Grover Cleveland signed the bill into law in 1894.

And now, here we are grilling the last of the summer season’s hotdogs, floating in the pool while it’s still warm and enjoying much needed time off from the daily grind of the work day. A day to remember the drive and ambition of the American spirit, and the sweat equity it took to get us where we are today.

But Brandy, what does any of this have to do with the Sabbath Day, since the very title of this week’s blog post implies diving into that topic?

I’m so glad you asked.

In the same way this holiday affords us the opportunity to have a nice, long, three day weekend for rest and refreshing, the same is to be had one day each week.

The Lord God worked for six days while creating all we see and cannot see around us. Then, as the sun was setting to begin the seventh day, He rested. The Creator of the universe stopped to relax and reflect on what had just transpired. This day was extremely important for God, so much so He blessed it.

“So the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts (inhabitants). And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it [as His own, that is, set it apart as holy from other days], because in it He rested from all His work which He had created and done.” (Genesis 2:1-3)

And later we see it written in the Ten Commandments themselves - a reminder to us.

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God). Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath [a day of rest dedicated] to the Lord your God; on that day you shall not do any work, you or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock or the temporary resident (foreigner) who stays within your [city] gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day and made it holy [that is, set it apart for His purposes]. (Exodus 20: 8-11)

Have you ever really wondered what taking a Sabbath day is supposed to look like? I know I have, and so what transpires in the next couple of sentences is merely by opinion and suggestion as to what it could look like in your life.

Over the years of my faith journey, I have determined our Sabbath is our time to slow our bodies and brains down long enough to reflect on our week and how the goodness of God is infused into all aspects of our days. We can remember times His patient hand lead us in the paths of righteousness. Moments when fear and dread washed over us, threatening to drown us, but then the Peace that surpasses all understanding dove in beneath us and lifted us above the high waves.

A day to unwind and remember how the God of the universe is reflected in every aspect of our lives, and maybe even recognize areas where He is not, but needs to be. Did you learn any lessons this week that allowed you to grow in your faith? Were you challenged in your theology as you studied through scriptures? Did you feel the tugging of the Holy Spirit on your heart asking you to forgive a wrong?

Did you fail miserably and fall on your face midweek, and now you are just wondering which way is up, and how to get back on the straight and narrow path? Anxiety overwhelm you? Joy overtake you?

Much can happen in six days, and in the Lord’s wisdom, He knows we need to constantly be reminded of our need for a Savior. Our flesh can easily try to regain control of our heart and mind, so consider your Sabbath a reset from the dust storm that was your previous week. Wash off the residue, allow yourself to become fresh and clean and feel refreshed in the glory of Christ.

Oh how we need these moments, weekly.

But too often we do not take advantage of our seventh day recalibration, and we continue charging on full steam, head down, pushing against the wind with no sign of slowing. It’s just a day you don’t have to punch the time clock, so it becomes your day and not the Lord’s. Interesting, isn’t it, how quickly we can take ownership of something that was never intended to be ours to begin with.

Ah!!!

There it is!

Don’t you see it?

The Lord God sure did, which is why He ordained a day for rest and reflection on Him. He knows we will have a tendency to naval gaze (as Matt Chandler says) and keep our heart, mind and soul focused inward instead of upward. And if we continue to feast on a diet of selfish flesh, we will become weak, malnourished and easy prey for the hater of our souls.

Come to the table and partake of the Bread of Life and drink deep from the fountain that never runs dry. Christ knows the majority of your work week is filled with busyness, worry, stresses, fatigue, overstimulation and more. Come rest within the green pastures and be calmed as you lay down beside the still waters.

Please don’t misunderstand. You should be seeking the face of the Lord all seven days each week, but the Sabbath should be a day when your time is even more focused and concentrated on the Lord because there should be less distractions.

If you haven’t been utilizing your Sabbath day to recenter your mind on the King of glory, I encourage you to start practicing this coming Sunday. Or maybe your Sabbath is a different day of the week? We need not be so dogmatic about the calendar, as long as we are pure in our intend and pursuit.

The importance of it all, is to allow that time to draw closer to Jesus and shake yourself free from the garbage of this world. Become just as diligent as those labor workers before us, when they marched in the streets and waged a battle for fairness and safety in the work place. You battle to keep your soul within the shelter and safety of the Rock that is higher.

I am reminded of the lyrics from an old hymn I sang often growing up. I believe it sums up very nicely the purpose for keeping the Sabbath set apart unto the Lord.