Holiness: Sabbath

For six days we work to make this world a better place. But the seventh we set aside to reflect on the good that God has done. 

Faithfulness, justice, and mercy. These are the attributes that should mark our work and our rest.

The six work days are about what we do--our work for the Kingdom. Wherever we are in life, God calls us to work faithfully as to Him, for He placed us where we are. Doesn't matter if that's writing books, forecasting storms, shoveling sand, or cooking for your siblings. We are to work with justice, always doing the right thing even when it hurts. And we are to work with mercy, for we are all human. We all make mistakes and we all need love. It's not just business. It is your post as an ambassador of the Most High.

On Sabbath we remember it's not about us. It's about our Father. This is when we recover our identity as the children of God. We remember His faithfulness to His Covenant, His justice for the poor, the stranger, the oppressed, and His mercy on His people. The work is done. It is finished. There is nothing we can add to or take away from what He has done. All that is left is for us to rest in His goodness.


How do you set apart the Shabbat?

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Steady On

For those that don't know, I am (attempting) writing a novel. Right now, I'm in the first stages of revision--that long tedious process that (hopefully) takes a mess or words and turns them into something worth reading. It's slow going, but it's steady. I go through about 500-1000 words a day. Of course, this is only a first revision. Many novelists go through seven or eight drafts before they're ready.

As the work week draws to a close, I am looking forward to Shabbat. It's not a whole lot, but I am satisfied with what I accomplished this week. You know, the commandment says not only that you should rest on the seventh day, but to work the other six days. We are building a Kingdom after all.

I read through Nehemiah the other day (well, skimmed...there's a lot of names in that book). I think it's amazing how one ordinary guy had a dream to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem--and he did it. I see our work kinda like that. We are building up a community, a nation. Each of us has a different part to play. With Nehemiah, there were men building the different sections of the wall, guards to protect them from their enemies, priests to teach from the Torah. Together they worked, not just to build a wall, but to become a people again. To rediscover their identity and turn back to God so He could establish them in their own land.

Our roles vary from person to person and often they change through time as well. My question to you is What have you been doing to build the Kingdom this week? What work are you resting from this Sabbath? Leave a comment to share with the rest of us =)

Shabbat Shalom!

How I Dream of Shabbat

Friday preparations--clean the house, balance the budget, prepare a meal large enough to last into sunday, set the table, prepare our hearts.

Light the candles to set apart the Shabbat. Open with kiddush and family blessings. Maybe have a guest for dinner. Leave the computers and cell phones off. Spend the evening as a family, eating together, playing together, studying together, talking together, worshiping together. Stare at the stars as they come out. This is our date with God. Music and dancing are encouraged.

Saturday morning sleep in a little (but not too much). Gather with other believers for food and fellowship. Pray. Listen to a short teaching. Midrash. Dance. Worship. Play games. Get lost in the Shabbat until night falls and the stars come out. Mark the end with Havdalah--the flame, the wine, and the spices.

Take the holiness of the Shabbat with us into the new week.