Thinking about Sabbath Rest

Thinking about Sabbath Rest

Posted on by Matthew Laker

In the summer of 2015 I had to take some leave time from work. It was a time for self-care and restoring. I remember sitting in a canoe with my fishing rods. Often when I fish the time is also filled with reflection and prayer. I remember asking God, what do you want me to do this summer? Should I read a book, or go somewhere, or do something? Then the thought came, do nothing, just sit with me. In that statement was the idea of sitting with Jesus, and taking a break from work.

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Psalm 23:1-2 says “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

 

We live in a 24/7 world. I still have this small memory where things were closed one day a week. In my lifetime I have watched how in Canada the general workforce in a lot of areas has moved away from working five days and having two days off to many working 6-7 days a week. At the same time, North America, as a society, has seen an increase in the percentage of people who suffer from depression and anxiety.

 

In scripture, there is a rhythm for God’s people to practise. For Jesus followers, this is not a salvation issue. God is not going to reject you because you do not keep this rhythm.

 

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he started by declaring that he is the “LORD of the Sabbath” and the meaning of the day (Matthew 12:8; Luke 4:21). In a sense the Sabbath was a stop day from work, it was a day for restoring.

 

When we look at the Sabbath we can become legalistic and create all kinds of boundaries around the pattern and forget the intent of the law. It’s not about keeping it, (although in a way it is), but it is really about restoring and trusting God. I am beginning to understand that that part of the Sabbath is not just about rest or restoring, but growing my trust in Jesus.

 

What if Sabbath is meant to be a refuge and not a prison?

 

There is much research out there now that is building a strong case for the need to slow down and take rest. In my personal life, I have gained wisdom through experience about the need to have a stop day–the need to just sit with Jesus at various times in our life.

 

The challenge is understanding what work is. Work has changed over time and is different for many. The Sabbath is about taking rest from the work we do. It is taking a break from the regular work of our daily week.

 

In my life I have seen that by taking a break from the routine of work/commerce has helped to build relationships with my kids, to the point that they anticipate a certain activity that has become a tradition for us. I have seen how it can help restore my physical body. I have found benefits to my mental capacity. I have found benefits in my spiritual walk and often I will take extra time in my prayer and meditation. During this time, I will often take the time to look both back and forward in my life.

 

I have lots to learn from this practice and believe me, I am not where I think I should be. However, Sabbath rest is something I see in scripture that can help us enter, engage and experience the life we were created for.

 

I would love to hear about your experience in this area and any lessons you have learned. Do you have a question about Sabbath?

Observations From The Life of Jesus on Time Management

Observations From The Life of Jesus on Time Management

Posted on by Matthew Laker

When we look at the life of Jesus there are some observations we can make that can help us in our use of time. One main observation is that once time is gone, it is gone. This is what makes time precious.

Generally, as a culture, we are obsessed with time. We judge people based on what they can produce in a certain amount of time. We struggle in the tension of handling our time wisely. For all of us our values and wants are usually the driving force as to how we use our time.bread

 

As we look at the life of Jesus there are five things, to start, that can help us with our own time management.

1. Jesus is not rushed

Jesus seems to never be in a big rush to go anywhere. He knows where he needs to go but he seems to take his time. As he goes to where he needs to, he gives what we might call today margin.

As you read through the bible you will often see that God is not in a hurry. He often may not take what we think is the most efficient route.

God is not concerned about our perceived speed of time, but instead how we use that time.

 

2. Jesus gives time for people and sometimes just one person.

In the gospel of John chapter 4, he spends a long time speaking and investing in just one person. He also seems to spend more time with smaller groups of people rather than with larger groups. He spent more time with the 12,for example, then he did with the 120, and even among the 12 he spent more time with three. Yet even in the midst of that focused time, he still allowed others in. As he walked along the road he listened to those who crossed his path and gave them his time.

 

3. Jesus accepted interruptions.

In Mark 6 the Apostles come and report back after a training mission. Jesus shares they need rest and so they get in a boat and cross the lake. However, a large group of people end up following them and meet them on the other side. All they wanted was to find rest and be quite for some time but these people have interrupted them. As we look at the life of Christ, we see him use interruption as potential God opportunities. He uses this moment to teach and serve that crowd.

 

4. Jesus understood seasons of time and rhythms

As flip through the gospels, we see Jesus in moments of craziness with lots of people and moments of him just with himself. He would often pull away to get rest and take care of his own soul. There were times for being generous with his time, and time for taking care of his own life.

 

5. Focused

In Mark 1:36 Simon (Peter) comes to find Jesus and says “everyone is looking for you!”

Listen to his reply, “let us go somewhere else-to the nearby village-so I can preach there also. ”

Jesus knew what God called him to do. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to be good Christians and helping everyone and doing all kinds of good work with our time that we miss what Jesus is asking us to do. Sometimes, like Peter, have expectations or listen to the expectations of parents, others, friends, culture and we do not live lives worthy of our calling.

 

Jesus was generous with his time, but in a way, was also ruthless with his time. I do not like the word ruthless because it means no compassion and Jesus had compassion. Jesus was focused, sometimes at the expense of not healing everyone. Did you notice that Jesus did not help everyone in that moment? He focused in on what God called him to do for that season, and did not worry about what others expected him to accomplish.

 

What is one thing you can take from the life of Jesus on how he used his time?

P.S.

One extra – Jesus practised a Sabbath rest. More to come on that later.