Sabbath
Nehemiah 13:15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
The Sabbath is a day of rest. A day to leave all work and observe an intermission from commercial and strenuous activity – even cooking was not done on the Sabbath by the Jews. God rested on the seventh day and so mankind made in His image are required to follow this pattern. It should not be difficult to see that taking a day off to bless and worship God and for family is a principle that is beneficial in many regards. It tells us that God gives increase … so we can leave our fields in His hands.
Withdrawing from our own efforts means we are leaning on the everlasting arms of the Almighty. Leaving our burdens at the feet of Christ, signifies that we believe He is the true burden bearer. Indeed there are many pictures of the new covenant in Christ, our Sabbath.
Jesus is “Lord of the Sabbath” and He also decides the true meaning of the Sabbath because He created it, and He is our Sabbath rest in the flesh. By saying, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” , Jesus was restating the principle that the Sabbath rest was instituted to relieve man of his labors, just as He came to relieve us of our attempting to achieve salvation by our works. We no longer rest for only one day, but forever cease our laboring to attain God’s favor. Jesus is our rest from works now, just as He is the door to heaven, where we will rest in Him forever.
Verses for further meditation
Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:27
Thoughts for Business and the work place
Leaders understand that there must be periods of rest
Suggestions for Prayer
Lord, teach me to enter into your rest. Amen
As Nehemiah’s wall was built, so will we see a reconstruction in all that may appear in distress and in waste. Nehemiah trusted and feared God, putting his faith in the Almighty whose strength is limitless to exceed all our expectations. Look out daily for Nehemiah’s Wall in 2015 and do invite friends to subscribe to the free email or social media posts. I am praying someone with a burden to be used by God in building will receive a fresh vision and get the job done.
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Recessionproofchristianlife.com is a privately owned blog/media site started in 2009 as the internet ministry of the author. It promotes the absolute authority and divine inspiration of the Holy Bible as the Word of God – Infallible and Sufficient.
