Yesterday, we saw how rest, both physical and spiritual, was God’s will for us. By stepping out of our daily routine and deciding to intentionally redirect our time and attention away from our daily work towards our Creator and Father, we experience the rest and peace that Jesus promised to give to all those who labor and are heavy laden. A small precision worth pointing out here is that rest is not laziness. Being lazy and avoiding work or procrastinating should in no way be confused to rest, which is a gift from the Father for those who have labored. God rested on the seventh day after laboring for six days; Jesus says He will give rest to those who labor. Good work is a pre-requisite for rest, and conversely, rest is only enjoyed to the fullest after good work has been accomplished. Sabbath and work can therefore not be dissociated. Though, during the Sabbath, we do not practice our daily labor, God invites us to think about it, to evaluate it, to reflect upon it.

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So, the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” – Genesis 1:31

God looked back at His work when He completed creation, and said it was very good. Can you say the same? Does your daily labor show that you serve the Lord? or Mammon (money)? (Matthew 6:24) In your everyday life, do your actions encourage people to glorify your heavenly Father or to curse Him? (Matthew 5:14-16) Do you live a life that ultimately points people to God or to yourself? (Galatians 1:10) Are you working on the Great Commission of Christ, to make disciples of all nations? (Matthew 28:19-20) Or are you too busy with your personal ambitions? How is your relationship with Christ? (John 15:4-5) Growing, stagnating, or backsliding? Is the Word of God truly your daily bread? Do you consume it, obey it, and live by it or is it merely one more book on your shelf? (Joshua 1:8)

In the parable of the Sower, Jesus tells of the seed that falls among the thorns. When the plant grows it is choked by the thorns that represent distractions of this world. 

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” – Matthew 13:22

There is a popular saying that goes like this: The person that the devil cannot destroy, he distracts. Sabbath is the antidote to the venom of distractive leisure that this world has to offer. It snaps us out of the spiral of distraction, and self-satisfaction and gives us the space and time to ask ourselves the real questions. Asking ourselves these questions will lead us to discovering the answers, which are often not satisfactory. Keeping the Sabbath puts us face to face with our shortcomings and creates in us the glorious fruit of repentance. We realize how and where we have fallen short of God’s glory, how we have drifted away, and how much we need Him. Once we silence the hustle and bustle, we discover this new aspect of the fruit of Sabbath – repentance – and simply fall to our knees before the great and Holy God. 

But for a sincere and humble heart, repentance never comes alone… Its sister, reconciliation, is never far, glory be to our gracious God!

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Jesus has reconciled us to Himself – that we who were supposed to die in our sins are now reconciled to the Father.” – II Corinthians 5:18-21

The fruit of Sabbath is that of repentance and reconciliation. Refraining ourselves from performing our daily tasks sets us free from the thorns that wrapped us and choked the life out of us, preventing the seed of the Word of God in us to bear fruit. Keeping the Sabbath gives us the opportunity to reflect on our work and lives in general, and let the Holy Spirit search us and reveal the lurking wickedness and sin within us (Psalm 139:23-24). When finally reconnected to God’s holiness, our unworthiness becomes so flagrant, then the natural response of repentance cannot be avoided. And as certain as the Lord does not despise the broken-hearted (Psalm 51:17), it is certain that through Christ Jesus, reconciliation is our portion!

Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life, no one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Only through Him can we cross from death to life. Just like rest, repentance and reconciliation can only be attained through Jesus, the Lord of Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath cannot be done outside of Him, and only through Him will it bear its fruit in our lives. Let’s pray together now and meet again tomorrow to discover more of the fruit of the Sabbath.

Prayer:

Lord, Jesus, the great and awesome God. Hallowed be Your name in heaven and in all the earth, as there is no God who is as compassionate, loving and kind as You. Father God, help me to always set and spend a time of reflection with You and dwell in Your Word, and remind me often to keep the Sabbath day holy as You are holy and the Lord of the Sabbath. Lord, continually examine and search within me. If there is any sin You find in me, please forgive me. I also ask You to take Your place in my heart and teach me the knowledge of Your kingdom that I might gain profound understanding of Your truth. Thank you, Lord, for loving me and overshadowing me with Your light, which shines brighter than the sunlight. Glory be to Your holy name forever and ever. In Jesus’ name. Amen!