Sabbath Sunday

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NIV)

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(Luke 10:38-42)

We live in an age of constant rush and busyness, where every moment seems filled with activities and obligations. Our schedules are packed, and we often find ourselves running from one thing to another, leaving little room for rest and reflection. In the midst of this fast-paced lifestyle, our communion with God can easily get lost. We may mentally acknowledge God's presence, but our intimacy with Him takes a backseat to our never-ending to-do lists.

God created the Sabbath so we could truly rest from the busyness. It was a sacred commandment given to the Israelites to observe one day as a day of rest and holiness. The Sabbath is not merely a day of doing nothing; it is a deliberate choice to pause, cease our work, and give our attention and devotion to the Lord. It is a day to recognize our dependence on God for His provision and to exercise faith by shifting our focus from constant doing to acknowledging the One who enables and empowers us to do all things.

The story of Mary and Martha in the book of Luke 10 provides valuable insights into the concept of rest and the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God. Martha, known for her hospitality and service, became consumed with busyness and the tasks associated with hosting Jesus. While she busied herself with preparations, Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet, fully present and attentive to His teachings. Her decision reflected a posture of rest, an intentional choice to set aside distractions to commune with God.

We can draw three important points about the Sabbath:

1. God calls us to rest: 

By observing the Sabbath, we honor God's design for rest, allowing our bodies and minds to recharge physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NIV). True spiritual rest is found by surrendering to Him, trusting in His grace, and finding refuge in His love. It involves releasing our striving, worries, and self-reliance and placing our faith in God's faithfulness. 

2. God calls us to replenish: 

Replenishing involves restoring and refilling our physical, emotional, and spiritual reserves that may have been depleted through the demands and challenges of everyday life. God invites us to replenish our emotional reserves by creating space for healing, reflection, and emotional nourishment.

3. God calls us to restore: 

The Sabbath is a time for restoration, not just of our physical and emotional well-being but also of our spiritual connection with God. Sin and the world’s brokenness can cause spiritual separation between God and us, but He desires to restore us to a close relationship with Him. Through the Sabbath, we can reflect on God's deep love and compassion, knowing He always seeks to reconcile and restore us. 

Consider how you can create space for spending quality time with Him through prayer, reading Scripture, fellowship with believers, worship, or simply being still in His presence.


Reflection Questions:

1. This season, you're encouraged to evaluate how you're spending your time. What can you do to make space for spending quality time with God?

2. In what ways have you seen busyness negatively impact your relationship with God? 

3. What do you do to rest? What would you do if you had more time to rest?

 

Additional Resources:

City Church Communications