Welcome to Monday— what we think of as the first day of a new week. But of course we all know that Sunday is the first day of the week (and the day Christians go to church). Saturday—literally the ‘seventh’ day—is the Jewish Sabbath. The word also comes from the word “rest.” While we tend to emphasize that the Jewish Sabbath was the day Jews were to rest from work, it was also a day to devote one’s thoughts to God.
Isaiah captures the meaning of Sabbath when he says it is a day “…to turn your foot from doing your own pleasure, to desist from doing your own will, from seeking your own pleasure, and speaking your own word—a day to take delight in the Lord…” (Is. 58:13-14). When we do these things, we are resting from our own works and celebrating Jesus’ work for us, in us, and through us—every day.
Though the Sabbath observance was commanded under the Law, Christians are free to enjoy the true and lasting spiritual rest of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ every day of the week—every day can be, and should be, a Sabbath.
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