Rest, then work
What happens when we walk through life and ignore the limits God has given us as gifts?
We live exhausted lives.
So what is the way to stop being tired all the time?
STOP. REST. And live with the limits that lead to an abundant life.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Pete Scazzero- “Limits are a gift from God”.
Our life is full of limits. We may not always honor those limits- but they are there. We may have been given different limits to the amount of money, energy and talents we have been given. Even our closets and the size of our home have a limit. Those limits are gifts. But do we really believe that?
In Genesis 1, we see God create our universe. He creates time- day and night- and they have a limit of 24 hours.
We, His creation, were given the same hours in a day, no matter who we are and what we do.
God created work- it is good, but God also gave us a limit to our work. It is called rest. Genesis 2:2 (NLT) says “ On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work”.
In Exodus 20:8-11- we see God creating a nation and he gives them a limit.
(NLT) “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
This limit is still God’s best for us. Ideally we life a life where we believe that we were created for work and rest. Where we honor the limit of six days of work – and one day to be set apart -Holy-Sabbath…a day to rest.
I recently read the book Beloved dust- and I love the big idea of that book. We are finite..we have limits…limits that God gives as a gift. One limit is a day a week to rest. Sabbath reminds us we are both beloved and dust.
The cross is not simply where we are saved, it is our place of rest- where Jesus did for us what we could not do for our selves. He brought us back to God- its why our church exists. When we believe we are loved-We rest.
We stop striving, knowing that our Identity is not found in with others say, or what we do, or don’t do.
When we know we are loved for who we are, not what we do-we are not afraid of Sabbath.
How do we return to a place of rest?
How do we embrace our limits and let go of the illusion that we are indispensable?
How do we live in the truth of knowing
We are not needed-we are dust.
but we are wanted-we are God’s Beloved.
Our world looks like the The Kingdom of God that Jesus spoke about when we called us to live as loved children and believe that limits are a gift from a good and loving God.
A God who says you are my beloved and you are enough.
Have you ever been with a small very tired child who does not believe they are tired. Who does not believe their mom or dad who are BEGGING them to just take a nap?
So many of us are walking though life tired to the core of our soul.
What if we rested, and believed our Father ? What if we honored the Sabbath day?
Sabbath is powerful, it has transformed my life.
So I want us to have a powerful image to help you remember what Sabbath is- it is the powerful SWORD to help you live the life you were created to live. A life where our soul finds rest.
Stop- Working -Observe- Rest- Delight
Jeremiah 16-
This is what the Lord says
· Stand at the crossroads and look
· Ask for the ancient paths,
· Ask where the good way is,
· Walk in it
· and find REST for your souls
Sabbath-is the good way that God wants us to walk in- it is where God provides rest for our soul.
Sabbath begins when we Stop. Sabbath is first and foremost a day of “stopping.” “To stop” is literally the meaning of the Hebrew word Sabbath.
Yet most of us can’t stop. We work until we are finished whatever it is we think we need to do. There’s always one more goal to be reached before stopping. Sabbath is when I embrace my limits.
When I allow God to be God. To know I am his. To give this primary relationship time
It is too easy to skim on my time with God and then to do things that he never asked me to do.
I am also aware how much joy there is in my life when I stop work- to be with God- to worship him, observe what He is saying and doing, What happens then, is that I am able to feel His love and love others. Most importantly I able to love myself when I rest and when I delight.
· Matthew 11, Jesus shares words that could be talking to many of us today - are you tired, worn out from religion-come to me, I’ll show you how to take a real rest, walk with me, work with me- watch how I do it. (The Message)
One of the great dangers of faithfully observing Sabbath is legalism. What about people who work on Sundays? Or when you have a sick family member or small children?
Jesus observed Sabbath but he also healed the sick on the Sabbath. What might be work for you may be different for someone else. That’s ok
Paul wrote about this in Romans 14:1-6 (NLT) Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him.
Sabbath is less about the day,
and more about our heart.
The key to Sabbath is to set a regular rhythm. It might start with one night-Lighting a candle when you get home – say a prayer – shut off your phone- go to bed early. Whatever it takes for your first step… Stop Working.
Have a goal to worship on Sabbath-In Silence, or with music, Art,
As a young mom learned to worship with headphones on while I vacuumed, Sabbath is not just stopping- its stopping our work to allow God to whisper truth to our soul. Where I can hear God loudest is when I am with his people, Worshiping together-it is so powerful. Where can you set apart intentional time to be the church or invite people over.
On the day set apart for my Sabbath- simply make time every week to worship, to be still.
(O) Observe- the love of God is the central focus of our Sabbaths
Matthew 28:19-20 God and make…
What are you observing right now? What is God teaching you? Journal even one word..
This year God gave me a word and a verse
Integrate…now I see it in my life
God speaks in Isaiah-
Isaiah 43:19 English Standard Version (ESV)
19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
But if there is one thing to Observe, look at scripture
This morning, I was moved by Jesus talking with his disciples- especially Petere
Jesus said As I loved you, love one another
How tired are you?
I asked this last week on FB and had so much interaction- I think many of us are tired.
We have gone past our limits,
God’s gift of the limit 6 days to work and one to rest is that God invites us to receive HIS rest
(R) rest-
Rest- Once we stop, we accept God’s invitation to rest. God rested after his work of creation.
He invited us every seventh day to do the same
He wants us to have activities that restore and replenish us —
Some of us need an earlier bedtime and a nap,
But for others- rest is hiking, reading, or making and eating good food.
Resting from unpaid work involves planning.
Sabbath for me is easier at the start of the week, but some weeks it is closer to Sunday and I have to trust God to be still.
Finally on Sabbath we Delight- When was the last time you spent a whole restful day enjoying yourself?
Describe a snow day as a child- snow day deer at my window…pancakes and kids who can’t go anywhere
God loves us so much he wants us to slow down and pay attention. And observe and worship and rest.
After finishing his work of creation, God pronounced it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). It was joyful and a celebration – and he invites us to do the same.
When I think of delight, I think of my friend’s daughter who loves to cut with scissors. Nothing makes her happier than spending hours cutting things into small pieces.
Last week she posted a photo on FB of her daughter. The joy on her face when they went to a craft store and she saw a whole wall of scissors. Because- to her nothing is more delightful than cutting with scissors.
She said one day- I am going to buy all of these!
What is bringing you joy these days? Are you making time for it?
As part of Sabbath, God invites us to join in celebration, to enjoy and delight in his creation and all the gifts he offers us
. These gifts come to us in many ways, including people, places, and things.
“What gives you joy and delight?” going to the ocean, or hiking in the mountains, and camping under star-filled skies- Is it having people around a table playing games, or a long drive with good music, or is it a chance to take a nap and then read a great book?
Then lets start…
If you can’t think of anything- We have some suggestions on our Ancient Paths calendar.
( Talk about the calendar)
redeem selfish
stop texting for one day
neighbor or friend for a meal
quiet prayer
board game night ( patti and her joy)
read a book
make time to be in a worship service
Sabbath is an invitation to see the invisible in the visible — to recognize God’s goodness is at work in our lives.
It does not mean we necessarily spend the entire day in prayer or silence, studying Scripture, but those activities might be part of a Sabbath. It can be as simple as choosing one day a week with a heart open and praying two simple words.. “Wow-Thank you”
It is deciding today that God loves you
He is for you
He invites you to receive the gifts of his limits
God made our universe his resting place
Psalm 132:14
14 “This is my resting place forever,” he said.
“I will live here, for this is the home I desired.
God -created everything and chose to live with us
First in the garden, then as Immanuel – God with us.
His limit is a gift- 6 days to work, one to rest.
Don’t leave with regrets, come today and allow rest for your weary soul to replace the need to do more.
Watch how when you stop, the world continues..
You are already enough, so loved…
Leave today and believe God’s limits are a gift
Are you tired, worn out from religion-come to me, I’ll show you how to take a real rest, walk with me, work with me- watch how I do it.
