Yesterday was a day riddled with tension for me. One thing after another just piled up and reckoned with my heart. I was taking my stress on, other’s stress, worrying, fretting and all of a sudden, I realized my shoulders were up by my ears. I came home from the day hoping for dinner and was met with a messy kitchen. I stewed, until I just realized:
I can ask for help. Throughout my day I see instance after instance of places I could have asked. This isn’t a public shaming, it’s just awareness. When I feel that tension, nobody is helping, I am alone, I realize now, there were plenty of offers. I just tried to do it all myself.
Pride.
It wore me out, the migraine I started the day with, turned into a headache that just stayed. It’s still here this morning. So, when I saw the kitchen in the state of head slap, I texted my kids who were home and they came and helped. I had some really nice conversations that i would have missed had i not asked!
What in the world does this have to do with sabbath? Well, lets start with a definition:
Heb. verb shabbath, meaning “to rest from labour”), the day of rest. It is first mentioned as having been instituted in Paradise, when man was in innocence (Gen 2:2). “The sabbath was made for man,” as a day of rest and refreshment for the body and of blessing to the soul.
Easton’s Bible dictionary
I don’t think we really understand how much God emphasized Sabbath rest. It’s mentioned, at least, 138 times in the word. At least, 50 times in the New Testament. Guys, I think we are meant to pay attention. our bodies were meant for a day of rest. Jesus calls himself “Lord of the Sabbath.”
Yesterday’s reading, Jesus meant to unhinge all the rules and regulations that the priests chained to the people. Today’s reading furthers this thought. The priests decide to trap Jesus. My question is to the Pharisees: does this ever work out for you?
“Leaving there, He went into their synagogue. A man was there whose hand was withered. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful and permissible to heal on the Sabbath?”—they asked this so that they might accuse Him and bring charges into court. But He said to them, “What man is there among you who, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful and permissible to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Reach out your hand!” The man reached out and it was restored, as normal and healthy as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, discussing how they could destroy Him.”
Matthew 12:9-14 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/mat.12.9-14.AMP
I start here. Rest means this:
““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.””
Matthew 11:28-30 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/mat.11.28-30.AMP
Let’s not start with rules and regulations of Sabbath. Or how you should do Sabbath. Let’s start with this invitation from Jesus. This is where we begin. And Sabbath will come. If we truly practice Matthew 11, rest will come not only physically, mentally but spiritually as well.
The verses following Matthew 11 all detail how the priests tried to add “religious rituals that provide no peace.” Jesus made sure to address this in the opening verses of chapter 12. Blessing to you this day.
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