Making Good Choices - Ten WordsSample

Making the right choices – Ten Words

Word # 4 Rest! 

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 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. 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.” (Exodus 20:7)

The Sabbath is all about celebrating who God is and His provision for us. The idea of a sabbath was first introduced to Israel in the desert after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The provision of God was confirmed by the provision of manna, just enough for each day. Manna could not be saved; it appeared each morning and disappeared when the sun came up. If hoarded, it spoiled.

Each day, the Israelites gathered exactly what was needed. I like to think that they could make a variety of dishes: manna pancakes, manna pizza, manna pies and manna pasta—all my favourites!

On the sixth day of the week, they were told to gather a double amount, because the Lord instructed them not to work at gathering manna on the seventh day. It was to be a ‘sabbath’ unto the Lord. 

Sabbath is based on creation and following God’s own example when He rested on the seventh day to stop and enjoy creation. On our Sabbath we, too, can stop and enjoy God and all he has provided for us. By not working on the Sabbath we show we trust God and His provision for us, showing thankfulness for all he has given to us. It is a time of rest, recreation, and renewal. 

Whether or not the Sabbath should be on the western Sunday is missing the real point. Listening to devoted Christians in a nation whose Sabbath is on a Saturday, I heard, “Lord, we serve you every day. If the one day of rest happens to be on the sixth or seventh, or third, or fourth, it’s of no consequence. We will take a day as a gift from you and use it for your glory.”

Jesus stated that, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) The Sabbath was intended to help people, not burden them. In contrast with the grueling daily work as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites were commanded to take a full day of rest each week on which they could celebrate their new freedom! 

Making the right choices?

This Word #4 encourages us to work hard together with the God of creation, and then, one day a week, to sit back, thank Him for His provision, and enjoy all He has given!