Seventh Day Living: The Intention of Sabbath Rest

We are living in the Seventh Day: a day of rest. Sabbath rest was a type and shadow of a greater reality. Yes, shabbat symbolized the reality of living in a continual day of rest. It is offered to us all! When once we set aside a day for rest, (whether celebrated on Saturday or Sunday) now that same rest has overtaken us. We are now called to live in the continual day of rest, the true sabbath for us all.

Sunday as Work Sabbath

When I was growing up “Sunday” was a day of rest. All the businesses were closed. There was a real peace that happened because work stopped on that day. Whether you were religious and a church goer or not, Sunday was a day to abstain from work. The pace slowed and the opportunity to focus was given. It was really nice.

Then slowly that standard was lowered. I remember it starting with convenient stores. 7-Elevens opened as a “convenience.” It was a small compromise that opened up the floodgates. And think about it, the rational was there. “Hey, if you urgently need something on Sunday, you can still get it at 7-Eleven…” Logistically it made sense, but this was one step that led to so many more steps. Before you knew it everyone was wanting their piece of the pie. To compete you had to lay down your convictions.

Now I think it is only small mom and pop businesses and Chick-Fil-a that remain closed on Sundays. Chick-fil-a has made a whole business model around it, and it has more than paid off for them. There is something to shutting down to focus on faith, family and resting. Again, if you go on logic alone, we need rest, we weren’t built for 24/7 work reality.

Shabbath A Living Reality

Back when businesses were closed on Sunday, I didn’t have the revelation of the indwell Christ. I didn’t know that sabbath rest was found actually in the exchanged life. There was a higher standard than just not working on Saturday or Sunday. There was a spiritual principle that Christ brought to set us free.

I wonder if that is why Jesus offended the religious leaders of His day on the Sabbath. Was He just trying to say, the NEW has come, I have increased the requirement to be the fulfillment. Think about it He upped the ante on everything. For instance, if you look with lust you have committed adultery, having hatred is the same as murder, tooth for tooth became going the extra mile and our vow became just letting your yes be yes and your no be no. Christ said, you couldn’t do it before, now it is absolutely impossible.

Jesus the Sabbath

Why did He do this. Again Jesus increased the requirement to be the fulfillment. And today, the sabbath requirement is found in something so much higher than setting aside a day, it is entering His Life. Yes, Christ’s Life as my life is His Life in my life, and that’s not my life as His life it’s HIM…this is truth Sabbath Rest. We are given the ability to enter into a set aside LIFE. The intended sabbath rest is now found in Christ living our very life every day. I love this with all my being. Christ is my day of rest, continual!   

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.”
Hebrew 4:1 NKJV