The Most Important Way to Observe the Sabbath Today
How do you observe the Sabbath Day?
God told Moses to write the following…
“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.
Exodus 20:9–10, 11
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.
What does it mean to observe the Sabbath Day?
I grew up with a Sunday Sabbath, during which the morning was spent at church and the afternoon included family dinners and lots of conversation. (Oh, and a little cheering on our favorite team during football season.) We focused on our relationships with the Lord and one another. I loved it.
The word Sabbath means “Day of Rest.” Jews set aside Saturday, the seventh day of the week, to focus on God’s gracious love and care. By the time Jesus entered creation in a human body, the Sabbath day command had become a detailed list of restrictive dos and don’ts.
For that reason, the Pharisees declared Jesus’ healing help “work” and a sin against the day of rest.
John wrote…
The Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.
John 5:16
But Jesus consistently told and showed His followers that loving and caring for others was not work.
He replied to those harassing Him by saying,
“My Father is always working, and so am I.”
John 5:17
The Life Application Bible Notes add…
“If God stopped every kind of work on the Sabbath, nature would fall into chaos, and sin would overrun the world. [The words] god rested on the seventh day cannot mean He stopped doing good. Jesus wanted to teach that when the opportunity to do good presents itself, it should not be ignored, even on the Sabbath.” (LAB Notes – John 5:17)
Remember … “In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
Jesus continued…
“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing. In fact, the Father will show Him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.
John 5:19–20
So, how do you observe the Sabbath?
We remember and observe the Sabbath Day by loving God and loving people.
Wait! Maybe that makes every day a Sabbath Day, a day to model the Savior and enjoy the freedom He gives us to live a life full of love.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Honor and Observe
the Sabbath Day Jesus Way
Father God, when You gave us Your Commands, You reminded us that You created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. You intentionally instructed Your people to pause one day each week to model Your example.
You told them and us about the importance of work and the value of resting with and focusing on You. We know that Jesus kept Your will perfectly. He faithfully spent time with You and Your people.
Forgive us for the times we have made the day of rest about following the rules and “doing it right” like the Pharisees. Jesus showed us that every day is about loving You and loving people.
It is a great blessing to worship You with Your people each week. I love singing Your praise with other believers, spending time with them, and lifting them up in prayer.
Worshipping with others encourages me and helps me grow in faith. Please forgive me for neglecting the gift of resting in Your care with faith-filled friends. And help me remember the Sabbath is not about rule-following. Like all of Your commands, it’s about love! Loving You and loving and caring for each other.
Because of Jesus, I am free to live a life filled with faith, hope, and love. All of my life is a blessing of Your grace so I might live for Your glory. May I faithfully follow Your will with the Spirit’s help. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Quotes about Observing the Sabbath Day…
“Sabbath … is still a gift to us today. If you are weary, worn out, and exhausted the concept of Sabbath will change your life.” ~ Priscilla Shirer
“Sabbath isn’t about resting perfectly; it’s about resting in the One who is perfect.” ~ Shelly Miller
St. Augustine wrote…
“A Christian is: a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps.”
May that be our prayer … to follow Jesus with the Spirit’s help and LOVE GOD & LOVE PEOPLE all for God’s glory!
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Amen, Deb! May every day of the week be a Sabbath one for those of us who follow Jesus. Blessings!
May the attitude of my heart be focused on God’s love and the blessing of being able to share His love with others. God’s blessings, my friend!
Yes, everyday should be a day of loving and caring for others and most of all, keeping our focus on Jesus. The Sabbath around our house does start with devotional (every morning we start our day that way) and then going to church. The rest of the day is rest and if family comes by or we go to visit them. Deb, when I was a young girl, it was considered a bad thing to go to a movie on Sunday. Thankfully for movie lovers that changed. Now we shop on Sunday and do all kinds of things. Just hopefully in all of the “doings” the focus is on Jesus and all of our blessings. I pray that you have a good week. I know this is an especially hard time for you right now. You are in my thoughts and prayers my dear friend. God bless you.
I remember all the Sunday “don’ts” too, Sue. I’ve loved learning that what the Lord wants is the attitude of our hearts not just following a list of rules. Thanks for your encouragement. Reaching this first anniversary is hard. I am so very thankful for the thoughtfulness and prayers of friends like you! Blessings and HUGS!