The fourth commandment says that we should “remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8 ).
When most people think of keeping the sabbath, we think of going to church. Faithfully participating in worship and Bible study is spiritual practice that equips and encourages us in our Christian living. However, our practice of sabbath may or may not occur on the day we attend church.
The concept of sabbath comes from the Hebrew word shabbat which means “a ceasing or cessation.” Examples in the Bible and in Judeo-Christian history of multiple sabbath practices include a weekly sabbath, a monthly sabbath, an annual sabbath, and a seventh year Sabbath. All of these examples remind us of the importance of periodically ceasing from our usual activities and resting from our labors in order to replenish ourselves and to honor God.
Because Sunday is usually a heavy work day for me, I need to take another day of the week to “cease” and “rest” (a practice I need to keep more faithfully). I am much better at practicing sabbath moments, brief times during the day where I pause, tune out the clutter of daily responsibilities, clear the desktop of my mind, reset my attitude, listen to the conversation in my soul, and then resume my work.
Vacations are also a type of sabbath, a period of days to set aside our usual labors and to refresh ourselves through travel and recreation. One of my favorite definitions of Sabbath is “a change of pace and a change of place.”
I am grateful that you grant to me an allotment of time away from our church campus for study and preparation. Usually in the spring and the fall, I slip away for three to five days to a secluded area in order to study, to plan, to write, and to meditate on God’s leadership for me and for our congregation.
I am also thankful that you provide for me an allotment of vacation time, days to be away and “cease” from my usual labor. This week Amanda and I are beginning a two week vacation. For the first time in a long time, I am not taking any work with me. As much as I love our church family, it will be beneficial to you and to me, for me to disconnect for a few days in order to re-energize and refocus, then reconnect for the months ahead.
One of the ways that you encourage me is by supporting church activities and events in my absence. On Sunday July 19, Ross Lankford will be preaching. Ross will also have the joy of baptizing his daughter, Bailey, and others during the midmorning service.
On Sunday July 26, Sigurd Grindheim will be preaching. Sigurd’s wife Melissa is the daughter of Don and Debbie Minton. Sigurd and Melissa have most recently served as missionaries in
Our First Baptist Family continues to cherish our many mission partners. On Wednesday evenings in July during our Midweek Gathering, we are hearing from a few of our local mission partners:
- July 15- Loaves and Fishes, Rick Humphries
- July 22- Waterfront
- July 29- Health and Hope Clinic, Rick Hollis
I count it an honor to serve alongside you at
