Reference

Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Exodus 16:3-5, 23-30

New Normal about Work, Rest and Vacation

  • From “Thank God it’s Friday” to “Friday Blues”
  • Work is Endless. Rest becomes a bonus.
  • Vacation is the Reward of hard work.
  • Work from Home Burnout
  • We have all been trained to work hard and be productive.
  • We thought we knew how to rest and relax.
  • How can we make room for rest? 

Sabbath is a call to cease, to end and to rest

  • Exodus 20
    • Six days you shall do all your work
    • On the seventh day, you shall not do any work
    • God is inviting His people to cultivate a rhythm of work and rest
  • Deuteronomy 5
    • The Lord reminded them that they were formerly slaves in Egypt
    • For people who were raised in slavery, rest was a foreign concept
    • For slaves, hard work is everything and there was no room for rest
  • Exodus 16
    • The people were only required to gather manna only for six days
    • On the sixth day, they will gather double portion of bread
    • On the seventh day: no manna, and they are called to rest

Rest is a Gift 

  • In God’s redemption plan, rest is not a reward we earn for work well done
  • Sabbath is the rest we take in the middle of our ongoing work, without apology
  • Sabbath Rest is not just a mandate we try hard to obey
  • Sabbath Rest is a special gift from God - for us to embrace
  • Sabbath reminds us that God will provide - even when the work is not done
  • Sabbath reminds us that He is in control - seven days a week  
  • Sabbath is a stop sign, creating room for us to receive real rest

Making Room for Real Rest 

  • A Time to Unplug
    • From FOMO (fear of missing out) to JOMO (joy of missing out)
    • Starting with no social media for the first 15 minutes of the day
    • Then try unplugging for 90 minutes on Saturday
  • A Time to Connect
    • Connect with yourself - by journaling & reflection
    • Connect with God - rediscovering who we are: His beloved child

Be Still - a Prayer of Being (Psalms 46:10) 

  • Be still - and know that I am God.
  • Be still - and know that I am.
  • Be still - and know.
  • Be still.
  • Be.