Originally published Monday, 22 June 2015.
Remember : - to retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of:
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." (Exodus 20:8)
In Exodus God commands us to remember the Sabbath. Beautiful in its simplicity, it was a call to rest. An opportunity to end, to cease and to pause. Before God gave this to Moses as one of the Ten Commandments the Sabbath existed as an attitude, a principle, a mind-set. It was part of the regular rhythm of life.
"By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done." (Genesis 2:2)
On the Sixth Day, God created man. And on the Seventh Day, God rested. He rested not because He was tired or worn out. He rested to make a statement. Man was created and the very next day man entered rest - God's rest. Creation was not finished until the Sabbath was created. Rest - the Sabbath was the capstone of creation.
We need to live our lives with an awareness of being in the rest of God. The Sabbath is an invitation, after working diligently, to stand in the space of God and rest in His provision. It is our breathing room, our space, the margin where we can enjoy God. The Rhythm of Grace is living from a place of rest. Rest is renewal. Rest is refreshment. Rest is created by God. We need to remember and live from this place of rest.
"So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His." (Hebrews 4:9-10)
Tonight, my 4 year old and I stood outside in the early evening to look at the moon and the stars. We paused and made space. And while for my son it was an exciting time looking at the fading sunset and pointing out stars, for me it was an opportunity to stop and to pause and to think of God. A Sabbath moment.
"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers--the moon and the stars you set in place.." (Psalm 8:3)
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