My Sabbath Rest Journey

Dr. Mike 2024, , ,

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest…”   Hebrews 4:9-11

After I surrendered to a God I didn’t know, the process of discovery began. My first source was the Christian Bible. I purchased a paperback version and began to read. You may say I started out as a Bible fundamentalist. I was seventeen and ignorant of the entire Christian message. So what I read, I put into practice. At the time, I had no understanding of how to study the Bible. I was ignorant of context, hermeneutics, Hebrew/Greek, and the bias of translations. I simply read and implemented.

The issue of the Sabbath is one prime example of how God’s Spirit led me through life. It probably took over one-third of my lifetime to arrive at this place today. But yes, there is a Sabbath rest. But for me, it is not a day on a calendar. It is an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. My rest is found in the God-Man who took away the Sin of the world for you and me.

My initial understanding began with the Ten Commandants. The fourth command refers to keeping the Sabbath. The period was from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It was a time of rest. It was also a time to take part with your faith community worshiping God. This was my initial understanding.

I practiced this way for over twenty-five years. In the process, God was with me. God blessed me. I was at times discriminated for my belief. But God directed my steps and taught me to trust HIM through the faith HE had given me.

Then one day, one of those spiritual slaps occurred. My eyes were open. I gain better understanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testament. There is the law given to the Jewish people. This included circumcision, commandments, ceremony rituals, and 613 other decrees. All these was a tutor until Jesus fulfilled its requirements. He did the work and took these acts upon HIMSELF. All these religious activities pointed to HIM. They reflected HIS heart, mind, and soul. Today, HE, is the embodiment of all the dots and t’s that needed to be marked to live the perfect life.

In regards to the Sabbath, what changed was my understanding of Scripture. For Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath rest. He introduced a deeper rest than the Sabbath day. HIMSELF.

Matthew 11 & 12 finds Jesus speaking about this rest. His words “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Mt.11:28). Is HE not proposing something better than the rest one gains from keeping the Sabbath day?

Then later HE makes this claim. “For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath” (Mt. 12:8). Doesn’t being Lord of the Sabbath give him the authority over its meaning and practice?

We later find the apostle Paul writing about the keeping of certain days. In Romans, Paul writes to Gentiles. “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Rm. 14:5). A Jewish convert would find this blasphemy to consider all days alike. But here Paul writes to the Gentiles to follow your conscience. Whichever way you choose, do so in worship to God.

Also Paul writes in Colossians (2:16-17). “Let no one pass judgement on you in question of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” Here Paul combines the Sabbath with food laws and Jewish festivals. All these he stated are a shadow pointing to the coming of Jesus. Since HE is alive in heaven, we now look to HIM.

In Hebrews 4, we are reminded that the Sabbath day of creation always pointed to a future period. A time when humanity could rest from all their work. That this rest is now available through salvation in Christ. That as Christ-followers, we abide in Christ and taste HIS rest on a daily basis. Whether you set aside one day of the week to rest as a discipline to capture God’s grace upon you, or no day, your choice. The rest you and I truly want is found in a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

This is the short-version of my journey in regards to discovering the Rest found in Christ. Today, I kneel under HIS amazing grace knowing God looks at us through the prism of Jesus Christ. We are HIS royal priesthood (2 Pt. 2:9). That everything done from creation and into the future was made by Jesus Christ for Jesus Christ. HE, in HIS grace, included you and me into this process.

Yes, life is a learning process preparing you and me for eternity. Every lesson learned strengthens our faith and trust in HIM. We may not get it right at first or ever get it right. But being on Jesus’ side is all you need to begin your journey. HE will lead you and discipline you for your benefit. In the process you will find rest in HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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