Sabbaths

So I finished up reading an excellent book written by Peter Scazzero entitled, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. It's message has been timely for me for various reasons ... but as I finished the book last night ... his reminder and encouragement to protect the Sabbath stuck out to me.

He writes:

Sabbath, when lived, is our means as the people of God to bear witness to the way we understand life, its rhythms, its gifts, its meaning, and its ultimate purpose in God. Observing the Sabbath, we affirm: "God is the center and source of our lives. He is the beginning the middle, and the end of our existence." We trust God to provide and care for us. (p. 165)

Throughout the chapter in which he writes about the Daily Office and Sabbaths, he argues from Scripture that for us to grow in discipleship it is necessary and essential for us to gaurd the Sabbath. It is not optional. It is not something we put into our schedules if we have time for it ... it is something we need ... it is essential as we live out our unique lives in Christ.

In our culture, the Sabbath concept is radical ... our culture says "Go, go, go ... Do, do do! ... make it happen ... it all rests on you ..."

But for the one who trusts in God ... while there is personal responsibility ... we must remember that God is the One who ultimately provides, sustains, and cares for us ... and as we slow down, and make Him our priority and we don't just keep on doing for him but allow our doing to flow out of our being with Him and understanding who he has uniquely created us to be ... then we can experience the life that Christ meant for us to live.

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*Lord, you are my Provider, Sustainer, and the One who cares for me ... help me live a life that shows this ...