In our fast-paced, "always-on" culture, busy-ness is often worn like a badge of honor. We measure our worth by our productivity, yet many of us find ourselves running on empty. However, if we look at the life of Jesus, we see a radical alternative: intentional rest.
A Divine Commandment
The Chris Church Wednesday Bible Study Group has been diving deep into the Ten Commandments. We recently focused on the fourth commandment, which serves as a vital reminder for our modern lives:
Exodus 20:8-11 NIV [8] “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. [11] For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
The Sabbath isn’t just a suggestion; it is a principle woven into the fabric of creation. God rested after creation, not because He was tired, but to set a pattern for us to follow.
The Example of Jesus
Jesus was the most purposeful person to ever walk the earth, yet He never lived in a state of frantic hurry. Throughout the Gospels, we see Him intentionally withdrawing from the crowds and even His disciples to find solitude and rest.
Mark 6:31 NIV [31] Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (emphasis mine)
Matthew 11:28 NIV Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Jesus understood that to do the work of the Father, He needed moments of stillness with the Father.
Rest as an Act of Faith
Choosing to rest is actually an act of trust. It is a way of saying, "God, I trust that the world will keep turning even if I stop for a moment. I trust that You are the provider, not my constant striving."
As we learned in our Bible study, keeping the Sabbath holy means setting it apart. It’s a time to cease from labor, to delight in God’s creation, and to be restored in spirit. If the Savior of the world made rest a priority, how much more should we?
A Divine Commandment
The Chris Church Wednesday Bible Study Group has been diving deep into the Ten Commandments. We recently focused on the fourth commandment, which serves as a vital reminder for our modern lives:
Exodus 20:8-11 NIV [8] “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. [11] For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
The Sabbath isn’t just a suggestion; it is a principle woven into the fabric of creation. God rested after creation, not because He was tired, but to set a pattern for us to follow.
The Example of Jesus
Jesus was the most purposeful person to ever walk the earth, yet He never lived in a state of frantic hurry. Throughout the Gospels, we see Him intentionally withdrawing from the crowds and even His disciples to find solitude and rest.
Mark 6:31 NIV [31] Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (emphasis mine)
Matthew 11:28 NIV Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Jesus understood that to do the work of the Father, He needed moments of stillness with the Father.
Rest as an Act of Faith
Choosing to rest is actually an act of trust. It is a way of saying, "God, I trust that the world will keep turning even if I stop for a moment. I trust that You are the provider, not my constant striving."
As we learned in our Bible study, keeping the Sabbath holy means setting it apart. It’s a time to cease from labor, to delight in God’s creation, and to be restored in spirit. If the Savior of the world made rest a priority, how much more should we?
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