Rest – 4th Commandment

Exodus 20:8-11

The Sabbath for the Christian isn’t about whether biblically we can mow our lawn, harvest our fields, buy groceries, make meals, or play sports on Sunday. The Sabbath for the Christian is the satisfaction and joy and sense of completion that comes with knowing that the work is done. God has done it through Jesus. Work is defined in the New Testament as our attempts to try to somehow merit favor with God – to prove to ourselves that we count, that we measure up. We have a million ways of working, trying to measure up to God, to other people, to ourselves. Many of us are exhausted, spiritually and often physically. Many of us as Christians would be quick to tell people, “Jesus said, ‘Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’” But we are actually wiped out. We feel like the work is never done. Some of us have not learned to practice rest by grace through faith. We all get to be governed by our convictions and the freedom God’s rest provides.