That was over 30 years ago. One of the wise ideas in the Bible that I failed to fully grasp was the gift of Sabbath. Sabbath in Hebrew means “rest” or “day of rest.” Many of us has come to believe that Sabbath means going to church on Sunday. While Cathy and I have attended or helped lead worship services almost every single Sunday over the last 30 years, we have not observed a day set aside for rest. We have found ways to get some work done almost every day since we have been together.
In Jesus’ day the religious leaders had made hundreds of rules for the proper way to observe the Sabbath. Even today, it can feel like we are doing God a favor by keeping the Sabbath day in the right way. But Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) A day of rest was God’s gift to people. I don’t know about you, but God giving us a day of rest seems like a good deal! And I more clearly see the wisdom of receiving that gift.
Our Sabbath Wednesdays now include hiking and reading books that aren't for class or preparing for Sunday!