“You Americans have no issues with picking and choosing which commandments to follow. For instance, ‘Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy’ isn’t one that you follow,” said our tour guide in Israel.
In Israel, everything closes down for the Sabbath. When Geoff and I visited in 2016, we saw a sign in one of the shops in the market that read, “OPEN 24/6.” The elevator at the hotel opened and closed at every floor so nobody had to push a button on the Sabbath. We saw hotel room doors left open all night so that nobody had to open a door on the Sabbath.
I admit, I got a little defensive to our tour guide’s statement. I argued that Jesus came to fulfill the law and He said that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
But the Sabbath was so important to God that He made it a commandment.
Growing up, I went to Sunday School, then Church, then went home for roast beef, carrots and potatoes. Afterward, I took my Sunday afternoon nap before going to Church again in the evening. The Sabbath was a day of rest and worship. Only.
I’m not suggesting you refrain from pushing elevator buttons on Sundays or eat roast beef after church each week, but are you remembering the Sabbath? Are you setting it apart from every other day of the week as a holy day to rest and worship God? He thought it was so important for you that He made it one of the commandments.
You weren’t meant to work 24/7. Some of you need to hear me say that it’s okay to take a day of rest every week. You need a day of rest every week.
There are many ways to care for your soul; reading God’s Word, praying, confessing sins, worshiping with fellow believers. And remembering the Sabbath.
When you take care of your soul, you have much more to offer those you love and minister to.
Exodus 20 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Arianna Eckart
Director of Never The Same Camp