The Sabbath: Not a Suggestion

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all his work. (Genesis 2:2 NIV)

The sun, the stars, and the moon.

The animals that swim the seas, inhabit the rain forest, and roam the earth.

The grass that grows beneath our feet so that we may walk with constant cushion.

The color of our eyes, the angle of our nose, the way we move and have our being. Every human who has ever walked the face of the planet or will ever do so – God. He made it all.

Everything beautiful is His creation.

And yet He rested. Read the entire verse: “By the seventh day God had finished,” as in past tense. His diligence was perfect and His power incomprehensible. He did the work that was necessary. But once it was complete, He took the time to be still. He knew what was needed, and once it was finished, He disciplined Himself in holiness.

If our perfect God needed the Sabbath, wouldn’t it make sense that we do too?

Our to-do lists will always offer up opportunities to be distracted. Our perfectionistic nature will beckon us to keep our hands moving, our productivity flowing, and our schedules finely etched.

But this day of rest is a gift! More often than not, our productivity is compromised by our lack of awareness and focus, which is only heightened through rest. We were created to have this time to recharge, to restore our body, renew our mind, and refill our cup. There is no pressure to receive anything; it is simply to be.

Delighting in the discipline of the Sabbath will not only keep our priorities in line and put a smile on our heavenly Father’s face, but it will also provide the stamina and strength we need to do the rest of our week well. It is these moments of doing nothing that we discover we are much more than we what we do. When we give our first to Jesus and give this time to Him and to ourselves, He replenishes our time and provides all that we need to walk out His will.

Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of the Sabbath. Will You help us to see this day for what it is – a time of rest and renewal in You? We delight in this time with You as we let Your love wash over us. In Jesus’s name, amen.

This is an excerpt from Be Still by Cleere Cherry. If you are enjoying this series, consider purchasing a copy of this book to bless someone that could use daily words of encouragement. Shop all DaySpring Books and Devotionals.