“How wonderful and blessed is the divine appointment of the first day of the week as a holy day of rest. Not (as some think) that we might have at least one day of rest and spiritual refreshment amid the weariness of life, but that this one holy day, at the opening of the week, might sanctify the whole, might help and fit us to carry God's presence into all the week and its work.”

– Andrew Murray, The School of Obedience , pg. 51 (Moody Press)

Doesn't the nineteenth century sound good on paper? Surely Murray would realize that today's busy professional pastors have little time on the first day of their week (or any day, for that matter) to “sanctify the whole”! Yet if we fail to keep God's Sabbath principle, we are signing ourselves up for physical, emotional, and especially spiritual disaster. We were designed for regular rest. We were designed for non-work-related spiritual refreshment. Any omission here represents a disrespect for God's created order and a disregard of God's wisdom.

This familiar formula for rest is a good starting point: divert daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually. It may result in “forcing” times on the calendar, saying no to something here or there, and implementing some stricter self-discipline. We may have to put some of the many “needs” on hold.

But what if Murray is correct, and a true, spiritually-focused rest fits us to “carry God's presence into all the week”? Wouldn't that be worth it?

And wouldn't that meet your church's greatest need?

Prayer Question: Lord, do I rest?

 

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