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There’s Sabbath rest, and then there’s true Sabbath rest. If you want to experience true Sabbath rest, you may need to make adjustments to how you view the Sabbath.
How is True Sabbath Rest Different From Regular Rest?
“I need some rest,” I thought to myself as I almost snapped at a student. The pandemic had changed the rhythm of our school year, and my duty schedule, combined with the beginning-of-the-school-year stress, had taken away my usual rhythms of rest.
I wasn’t sleep deprived, I was rest deprived. Since I teach at a boarding school, part of my duties includes one weekend of supervision every three weeks. Before the pandemic, we allowed students to go home on the weekend. But the last school year started under different parameters. Instead of the usual, carefree weekends where many students checked out, we decided to have a super semester. No one went home for 16 weeks.
Every weekend, every students stayed on campus. Which meant more programming, more supervision, and less chance to rest on Sabbath.
Don’t confuse rest with sleep. I still got plenty of sleep. But my cranky attitude sprouted from a lack of true Sabbath rest. Our duty team had the first weekend of duty, and our MAPS Wednesday (outdoor school, pandemic style) had the first MAPS Wednesday.
I took a deep breath and released my frustration. A duty-free Sabbath was on the way, and I would feel so much better after a day of true Sabbath rest.
Show Notes
Bible verses to study:
- Mark 12:28-34
- Matthew 22:34-40
- Luke 10:27-28
- Romans 13:8-10 Understanding of the early church about the commandments and love
- Galatians 5:13-15
- James 2:8-11
- Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law or the prophets—he came to fulfill them Matthew 5:17
Hebrews 4:9-11 makes it clear that Jesus is our Sabbath rest. When we enter into relationship with him, we want to do what he did. We want to follow his example. We ask ourselves, “What did Jesus do on the Sabbath?”
- Jesus worshipped at the synagogues. Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35
- He taught at the synagogues. Luke 6:6, John 18:20
- Jesus harvested grain to fulfill a need (hunger) Matthew 12:1, Luke 6:1, Mark 2:23
- He healed people (to release them from bondage) Luke 4:31 Luke 13:10, Luke 6:6-10, John 9:14, Matthew 12:10, Mark 3:1-4
- Jesus accepted invitations to eat Luke 14:1
Why do Protestants keep Sunday?
Come Back Next Week
Join me next week when I share my self-care checklist for better mental health.
