If someone asked you how he or she could partner with God in his work in the world, where would you say he or she ought to begin?
Coming from an evangelical tradition as I do, I suspect many well-meaning Christian friends might suggest evangelism. Of course, proclaiming the “evangel”, as Jesus commissioned his church to do, is a vital component of God’s work. Perhaps others would suggest caring for the poor, for orphans and widows, or offering other social goods and services. After all, Jesus said, “What you’ve done for the least of these, you’ve done unto me.”
Each of these answers have merit, and I’m sure more could be offered. How would you answer the question?
A few weeks ago, I came across an answer that took me by surprise. I wasn’t surprised by the source. Rather, I was surprised that, frankly, it hadn’t dawned on me yet.
As Kingfishers Catch Fire is a collection of sermons from the ministry of the late Eugene Peterson. The first sermon in the book is on the Genesis creation story. Peterson wraps up the sermon, saying, “If we are to live out the reality and meaning of creation, we are going to be inextricably involved with Sabbath keeping. If Genesis is a text for getting us in on and participating in God’s creation work, Sabbath is our entry point.”
Sabbath is our “entry point”. Sabbath is where we begin to partner with God. This revelation was a bit startling to me, and yet I knew Peterson was on to something.
What do you feel or think of when you hear the word, sabbath? Maybe you have positive associations, maybe negative ones.
In recent years, I’ve come to understand sabbath, not as a dogmatic, “You must not…” but an altogether inviting, “You get to not…” Jesus’ famous retort to the zealously law-keeping Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27) puts the day in it’s proper place. Before sabbath was a duty, sabbath was a gift.
The Mosaic injunction to “Remember the Sabbath” (Ex. 20:8) highlights the fact that sabbath is something God has written into the fabric of creation. Sabbath didn’t start with Moses, sabbath began in the Genesis creation week when God “sabbathed” (Gen. 2:2). And God generously shares this day of rest with his human creatures.
Ultimately, we find rest in Jesus Christ, who calls all who are weary and heavy laden to come to him (Matt. 11:28-30). However, this truth doesn’t negate the spiritual practice of sabbath on our earthly pilgrimage; the two are not mutually exclusive. Rather, the weekly rhythm of setting apart one day in seven to stop, rest, delight, and contemplate is, in fact, a foundational way to experience the rest Jesus offers those who come to him.
Sabbath is a day to remember that we are not God. When we sabbath, Peterson writes, “[We] stop what we are doing and pay attention to what God has been doing and is doing.” It’s a day that trains us to work with God rather than for God, to get in sync with what he’s up to and the way he’s going about it. It’s a day when we, ironically, partner with God by ceasing from our labors.
Sabbath is a day that trains us to work with God rather than for God, to get in sync with what he’s up to and the way he’s going about it.
Over the next few months, I want share some more thoughts on sabbath and invite you to consider making this a keystone practice in your discipleship to Jesus.
As you begin to consider sabbath, hear this bit of wisdom from 17-year-old, Abbey:
Every Saturday night at 6:30, my whole house is dark except for one small candle on the kitchen table. It casts a warm glow on the faces of those seated around: my parents, six younger siblings, and commonly one or two guests. Covers are pulled off of enormous platters of food and the aromas fill the air like a cool breeze on a summer night…. This is how my family welcomes the Sabbath, a weekly ritual that we have had for about ten years. It begins at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and lasts until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.
It is so easy to get caught up in the mixed messages around us, and we need time to slow down as a family and keep in mind what our lives are really about. The ritual of Sabbath-keeping is a radical statement that we are not God, and we trust him to hold the world together, even if we stop for one day each week. We turn off all phones and computers and refrain from watching TV. We replace them with activities that will build us up spiritually and bring us closer together as a family. This includes anything from playing guitar and singing worship songs, to taking walks in the park and appreciating the beauty of the autumn leaves, to playing games and being silly. On Sunday mornings we wake up early, rain or shine, and pile into our fifteen-passenger van to make it to church by 9:00 a.m. Attending church serves as a reminder that we are part of a larger body of believers who are seeking a common goal.
Sabbath is my favorite day of the week. If God chooses to give me a family someday, I would continue with this ritual. The Sabbath brings peace, love, and order to our home and family, and the benefits carry even further.1
Could this be your story? Your family’s story? Maybe it sounds a bit romanticized. Maybe, but how will you know until you’ve tried?
Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader. Page 162-63.