Sabbath is More "Time Out" than Vacation
Friday, April 3, 2009 at 06:55AM Writing for a blog is an exercise in extreme editing for those of us who like to go on and on. The other day, I may have over-edited the post "Ten for the 10 Commandments", and left out a few thoughts that would have made my statements on the Sabbath clearer.
Sabbath rest refreshes us to be better able to relate to God and our fellow human beings. That said, Sabbath resembles not so much a nap that a busy mom might take to enable her to deal with a houseful of young children--it resembles more closely one of those naps that pre-schoolers and kindergartners are forced to take. I, for one, never wanted to lay down, but I always felt better after I did.
One could also liken Sabbath observance to a "time out" imposed by God. It's about obedience to Him, but it's more for our own good than anything else. Parents don't (or shouldn't) give their toddlers "time out" in order to benefit the parents. "Time out" is a practice that teaches the child to think about his or her misbehavior and to exercise more discipline in the future. It also gives an over stimulated child the opportunity to wind down so he or she is better able to consider his or her actions.
As we mature in the world, we learn to put ourselves in "time out" without the prodding of a parent. As we mature in Christ, we should learn the same thing about Sabbath.
Sabbath
Reader Comments (1)
That is a wonderful take on Sabbath rest. Well done... well done....