The Sabbath is for you

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Selfcare”

Our Bible verse for today: “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The Sabbath is for you”

When Jesus said the words recorded in Mark 2:27 he turned the whole notion of Sabbath on its head. The religious leaders of the Jewish people (The Pharisees) had turned Sabbath-keeping into a strict and heavy ritual complete with lots of rules, regulations, expectations, and requirements. It was arduous and time-consuming and it often created stress in people rather than nourishing their souls. Worse, the Pharisees taught that this was what God required of them and that a person was sinning if they didn’t comply. To the Pharisees, the Sabbath was all about pleasing a very demanding God.

But Jesus said they had it backwards. God didn’t create the Sabbath for Himself, He created it for us. It’s not for His benefit but for ours. Properly understood and practiced, Sabbath-keeping should leave us rested, refreshed, and renewed – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. That’s the purpose of Sabbath. That’s why God created it. Not because He needs it but because we do.

In terms of selfcare, there are few things we can do that will benefit us as much as consistent Sabbath-keeping. And I’m not just talking about going to church on Sunday to worship (although that certainly is an important starting place for Sabbath-keeping). I’m also not just talking about keeping Sabbath one day a week for the purpose of rest and relaxation (although we certainly need this too.) More than that, Sabbath “thinking” can become a mindset that governs our overall approach to daily life.

In yesterday’s devotional we considered the truth that the best life any of us will ever have is the one that is lived in the center of God’s will. That’s true but to have such a life we have to be intentional about it. It requires good discipleship to develop a life with God like that, and then that relationship with Him must be nurtured. Sabbath-keeping and Sabbath-thinking help us to do that.

In the days to come I will direct our thinking to some ideas and concepts from two very good books on this subject, both of which I have already mentioned to you. They are “Intimacy with the Almighty,” by Chuck Swindoll and “The Rest of God: Restoring your Soul by Restoring Sabbath” by Mark Buchanan.

God created the Sabbath for you. Sabbath-keeping and Sabbath-thinking are important and necessary practices in our quest for good selfcare.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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