Scripture References: Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Exodus 16:22-30; Genesis 1:26-2:3; Isaiah 58:13-14
Intro: Welcome. Speaker Travis continues the "Holy Habits" (Spiritual Disciplines) series. Acknowledging our busy, driven culture (work statistics, "busy badge"), today begins a two-part look at the discipline of Sabbath. Is it just an outdated rule, or a vital practice for life with God? This week explores the "What" and "Why" of Sabbath, rooted in Creation and Redemption.
Key Points:
- Restlessness vs. Rest: Our culture prizes busyness, often viewing rest as weakness. We are restless people sometimes finding rest, not rest-filled people occasionally restless (Nouwen). Sabbath counters this.
- Spiritual Disciplines Recap: Practices based on Jesus' lifestyle enabling us to be with Him, like Him, and do what He did. Sabbath is a discipline of both abstaining (from work) and engaging (with God/rest). Resting requires discipline; it's "work to enter His rest."
- What is Sabbath? Hebrew Shabbat = "to stop," "to cease" work. A command (4th of the Ten) and an invitation/gift (Ex 16). Refers to intentionally doing nothing related to work for a 24-hour period each week. It was practiced even before the Law (Manna story).
- Why Sabbath? Reason 1: Creation Rhythm (Ex 20:11; Gen 2:1-3):
- God worked six days and rested on the seventh, blessing and hallowing it.
- We, made in His image, mimic God's rhythm to remember we are not God. We embrace our creaturely limits.
- Adam rested in God's finished work before beginning his own work. We work from rest, not for rest.
- This rhythm is built into creation; ignoring it leads to burnout ("Either you choose rest, or rest chooses you").
- Why Sabbath? Reason 2: Liberation Reminder (Deut 5:15):
- "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out... Therefore the Lord... commanded you to observe the Sabbath."
- Sabbath celebrates freedom. Slaves cannot rest; their time is owned by a taskmaster (Pharaoh's relentless demands - Ex 5).
- Choosing Sabbath is an act of rebellion against slavery (to work, fear, approval, expectations). It declares we serve the God who created the weekend, not a taskmaster.
- Refusing rest is like willingly returning to the yoke of slavery God already broke.
- Work & Identity: We often overwork due to fear, seeking identity/value, covering shame, or trying to earn love/approval. Sabbath invites us to work from a place of knowing we are already valued and loved by God.
Conclusion: Sabbath is both a command rooted in God's creation rhythm and a gift celebrating our liberation from slavery. It's a deliberate weekly cessation of work to remember we are dependent creatures, not the Creator, and that we are free sons and daughters, no longer slaves to relentless demands. It requires trust and is an act of worship.
Call to Action: Recognize the "taskmasters" (internal or external) driving your busyness. Are you living like a slave or a free child of God? Consider the invitation to Sabbath. Can you trust God enough to stop? Practice ceasing from work for a period this week as an act of faith and worship, remembering you work from His rest, not for it. (Includes invitation for salvation for those still enslaved).
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