24 hours of unhurried bliss…the Sabbath. As a long-time Sabbath breaker, I now look forward to our Sabbath rest more than any other day of the week. It reminds me of my childhood when our family would awaken on Sunday morning, eat a leisurely breakfast and then head to church. After the service there was always a “coffee hour” for relaxed and playful conversation. The Sunday afternoon meal time was generally reserved for family, as was the afternoon devoted to playing cards, watching football, taking naps and walks, and practicing hospitality. It was a rejuvenating time; I didn’t realize how good I had it until the past few years when our family returned once again to the discipline of Sabbath.
In the subsequent decades since growing up under my mom and dad’s roof, the Sabbath I once knew as a child got eaten up by activities such as homework, busy college days, ministry in the local church (not much Sabbath to speak of!), and years of breaking the Sabbath to fit in multiple responsibilities or a massive checklist of “to do’s.” All the while we were giving lip service to importance of the Sabbath but not the kind of respect it deserved…until a few close spiritual friends (prompted I’m convinced by the Spirit of God himself!) broke through with a challenge to set apart the day for rest, refreshment and renewal. The result: sun down Saturday to sun down Sunday devoted to Sabbath rest…a commitment we want to maintain the rest of our lives.
We aren’t legalists about the Sabbath, but we are indeed making it a priority both as a weekly discipline and as a lifestyle. It’s transformed our lives in more ways than we can count. I’m especially grateful for Mark Buchanan, the author of The Rest of God (my favorite book on Sabbath), who will be our special guest at LTi’s 7th Anniversary events next month. Will you join us and, more importantly, will you recommit to the priority of Sabbath rest for you and those you love?