The Importance of Sabbath Rest

Life can get busy. Schedules and routines change. One thing should remain, though.

A Sabbath rest.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11

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It’s a day when you do no work, paid or unpaid, and use that time to refresh yourself. It’s a day where you spend time with God.

Here’s a question for you: If you only have one day to go to church, do you serve or go to worship?

My wife’s schedule changed. The days rotate now instead of her usual Monday to Friday and she’s off very few weekends.

Before, she’d worship on Saturday and serve on Sunday.

Now, the only service she can consistently go to is Sunday mornings, and she serves Saturday night in the nursery if she’s off that day.

Why? Because being with God helps us do for God.

Jesus says in John 15:5 that, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

We can do great things for God without spending time with Him. It’s dangerous.

Jesus said of false followers in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Serving is important. Every Christian should be volunteering somewhere. However, prioritize time with God first.

Remember, Jesus told the busy Martha that Mary, who was sitting at his feet listening to Jesus, had picked the better thing. (Luke 10:38-42)