Lent – March 7
Give up over-commitment and learn Sabbath Keeping.
Person 1: “Hello, how are you?”
Person 2: “I’m so tired.”
This conversation is more common than you’d believe. We’re a nation of people who are over-committed and burned out, and it’s our fault. Europeans, on the other hand, are famous for their 30-hour work weeks and long annual vacations. Rest is a general goal.
Somewhere along the way, we’ve been told that frantic busyness and overcommitment is good. Boredom is bad. The light and speed of a video game is good; the quietness and focus of reading a book is bad. Rather than emptying we fill. Instead of the enjoyment of conversing with a friend, we prefer the noise of a party.
None of these things is bad in limited quantities. But the American way is noise, distraction, and frantic action. What would you have to sacrifice in order to have Sabbath become a rule rather than an exception?
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong.” Isaiah 56:1-2.
“…don’t worry about these things, saying ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:31-33.
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’” Matthew 11:28-30.
Question: What does Sabbath mean to you?
Activity: Write down your daily schedule. Identify where it could use some help. List three ways you’d like for your life to have calmness in it and form an action plan.
Prayer: Dear Lord of the Sabbath. How prone we are to be over-committed in our lives. Too many sports activities and not enough joy, too much distraction and not enough calmness, too much work and not enough time for prayer and worship. We confess that we are tired. So we ask you to help us to learn calmness. In Jesus’ name we pray this. Amen.