I hold this day in reverent awe, knowing Sabbath is a celebration of all that my Jesus has done to set me free. It is to be celebrated, for we can be forever free from all the chains that have bound us to this world.
What are the things that keep us bound to this earth? To answer that question, we must establish that there are two mindsets; a spiritual mindset and a worldly mindset.
Our spiritual mind has its focus on the things of God and more importantly, on Jesus, Himself. But the mind with which we are most familiar, I’m sorry to say, is the earthly mind. We live here in this world, and too many of us are living as if we belong here, and are making plans to stay. That mindset keeps us from finding rest in the Sabbath or in any other day for that matter.
We are all familiar with the things that pull us away from the spiritual to the earthly; things that keep us distracted so as not to come to the place of actual surrender. We could try to name all the things that lure us but everyone is different. The things that block a full commitment to Jesus are as numerous as the sands in the hourglass.
So, as much as I would like to make things easy by listing the pitfalls of the earthly mind, so that we can check them off one-by-one, the only way to identify these things is to take an honest look at ourselves. That is the only way we will find genuine joy in the Sabbath; when we identify and pray away these things that bind us to the earth.
The most concerning thing for me is the lack of awareness that I see around me. Most people in most countries live as if nothing unusual is happening. We are apathetic at best. Living inside of ourselves for ourselves. Receiving momentary satisfaction, only to keep searching for that one elusive thing.
Are we so very callused, or overstimulated with calamities and perpetrated atrocities against humanity, that we just can’t handle them anymore or worse yet, refuse to look at them?
Incredibly so, calculated by the enemy to do that very thing…to keep us from looking at the reality of what time it is on this earth’s clock. Ingenious, but with catastrophic effects for the unobservant. What do you suppose God would have to do to get your attention?
Isn't rest [peace] and security what we all look for?
The Sabbath is not just a rule engraved on tablets of stone or even a memorial of God's blessed creation. We attend memorial services for the dead.
There is nothing dead here. The Sabbath is living!
Those words on the tablets of stone became flesh. "In the beginning was the word, and word was with God, and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning." John 1:1, 2. The ten commandments are a description of who Jesus is; the one and only one we are called to emulate; they became His words in the flesh when He came to earth. He embodies those commandments.
The Sabbath commandment was given to us as our call to rest in Him. He is our Sabbath. He is calling us, revealing to us, what this world is all about. He is providing us with an opportunity to witness the joy of living in Him and He in us. So run away from the counterfeit and run toward the Truth.
The Sabbath is not just a day. It’s a person. It is a rest that is totally unique from all the other days.
There was no "and there was evening and there was morning-the seventh day." No, there was no evening and morning on that day because there is no end to the glorious rest we have in Jesus.
I’ll say it again. There is no end to the rest that we find in Jesus. He is our Sabbath.
So beautiful and complete is His love for His children.
He told us to remember. Every week we are reminded to remember.
Remember that it is Jesus that brings us to Truth.
Remember that it is Jesus that delivers us from the ploys of the enemy.
Remember that it is Jesus that brings true satisfaction.
Remember that His love covers a multitude of sins.
Now that is worth celebrating. He gave us an entire day just so that we could celebrate His goodness and love and truth and peace. An entire day. A day that never ends but carries us on into eternity. Eternity is the fulfillment of His Sabbath rest. One day out of the week is just a sample. Enjoy it today.
copyright 9/26/2014
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