Wed., Feb. 1, 2023 – Mark 2:23-3:12
Did you know that even pastors struggle with keeping the Sabbath? We preach it, but sometimes we find it hard to live out. In my first few years as a pastor, I always intended to take the gift of Sabbath. Then, inevitably, something would come up and I’d find that it had been three or four weeks since I’d actually taken a day off. Can you relate?
In Jesus’ day, the Sabbath had been turned into a burden rather than a gift. The Pharisees got mad because Jesus’ disciples were breaking off heads of grain on the Sabbath while walking through a field. The Pharisees said the disciples were “harvesting grain on the Sabbath” (Mark 2:23-24). Then, the Pharisees got angrier when Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6). To the Pharisees, the focus was on keeping the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law.
We can get caught up in two ditches when it comes to the Sabbath. We can ignore it completely, which will be a great recipe for burnout. Or we can be rigid about how it is observed, which will keep it from being life-giving. Neither approach is helpful nor embraces the gift that God has for us in the Sabbath.
In 2022 I committed to protecting my Sabbath weekly. And I discovered something that I knew intellectually was true but had struggled to embrace with my heart. We need the Sabbath. In fact, we work from Sabbath, not for Sabbath. As Jesus put it: “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people, not the people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
So how can you stay out of those two ditches? You can find a day that works for you. It does not have to be Sunday. If it is Sunday, wonderful. For me, though, I work on Sunday. So, Monday is my Sabbath.
I love my Sabbath, and I choose things that give me life on that day. For example, I work out on my Sabbath because being healthy gives me life. I play golf with my dad (when the weather permits) because spending time with family gives me life. I meet a friend for coffee because friendship gives me life. I read Scripture and spend time in prayer because being in God’s living Word and in communion with him gives me life. I also nap because rest gives me life. What I don’t do on my Sabbath is check email because that does not give me life.
My challenge to you is to take your Sabbath and truly unplug from work. You don’t have to sit around all day and do nothing. Find the things that give you life and do them. If you take the challenge, you’ll find that Jesus was right all along – the Sabbath was made to meet your needs.
Questions for reflection:
- How would you rate your ability to take your Sabbath? If you struggle, what seems to get in the way the most?
- Try planning out a day that does not involve your regular work. What are you definitely including? Why?
- Who can you ask to be an accountability partner so that you can embrace the gift of Sabbath?