Never underestimate the importance of rest. We are created to work for six days and then to spend an entire day of rest. The Jews would start to rest at sundown on Friday and continue until the sun went down on Saturday. They weren’t allowed to do any work and going to worship at the synagogue was the central part of the day. Rest restores what the week has torn down. Forsaking it has its consequences.
Hebrews 4:9-11
Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
Cease and Desist
God took six days to create the world and then on the seventh day he rested. In doing so, he created the Sabbath rest. Sabbath means “cease” or “desist.” It was a day (from Friday evening until Saturday evening in Jesus’ time) when all ordinary work stopped. When we stop the work, we enter into rest which has a regeneration effect on us. Neglecting the Sabbath leads us into sin.
Restores and Renews
The benefits of a Sabbath rest are innumerable. Not only does it restore our physical body but it renews our mind. Taking our focus off of our work and putting it on the Lord rinses our mind of the stress. Stopping the physical activity also allows us to look around at our life and get a fresh perspective. It can inspire ideas and remind us of areas that need to be addressed. Observing the Sabbath can also reset our internal clock. During the work week, we allow our sleep pattern to get out of whack by staying up too late and sleeping in too long. These throw off our routine and make us feel out of balance. One day a week of rest can set things in order.
Don’t Get Rushed
I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment and talk about the dangers of forsaking a day of rest. Families today are run ragged by all of the outside activities we are involved in. On top of our jobs and schools, we have sports, dance, and music that take up hours each night. Many times we are eating dinner right before we rush the kids into the bath so they can get to bed. This bleeds over onto Sundays as we rush around trying to get everything ready for the next week. We squeeze in church if there is nothing on our calendar. This leaves our souls troubled and searching. The Sabbath restores order to our soul, do everything you can to preserve it.