Sabbath
Jan 26, 2011I am captivated by heavy snowfall.
Outside my window, juicy, wet snowflakes are being dumped from the sky, sticking to every surface and turning the world pure.
A blanket of stillness is tucked over our street. The normal volume of cars is absent. Still, a few people are out driving around, but far less than usual.
This day reminds me of the true “snow days” we had last winter. Those days when Philadelphia shut down completely after two feet of heavy snowfall in one day. The force to stop was irresistible. Schools, stores, offices and gas stations all closed down. We walked down the middle of the streets, not a car in sight.
People had to stop… And I dare say, we liked it.
We looked around and enjoyed the world. We spent time together with our families. We cooked, laughed and talked.
Snow days are like God’s invitation to rest in Exodus 20:8-11.
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work…” (vs. 9 and 10a)
That feeling of stopping, of rest, of all things coming to a halt, that’s not just limited to snow days. God designated that we should have that experience every week. Every seventh day.
I know I need to heed His invitation. What about you?
The captivation, wonder and excitement that I feel on a snow day, where I notice the glory and the majesty of the world and the Creator, has an even greater example in the gift of Sabbath.
“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (v. 11)
Holy. God made one day sacred, special… holy. A day meant to fill us with awe and reverence. To remind us of who we are and Who we come from.
Whether you have to brave the elements today, or you find yourself at home, my prayer is that you experience the interruption of your normal routine. That you stop and realize the brilliance of our God and the marvelous works of His hands.
And this week, when you come to the seventh day, may you remember that wonder of a snow day, and allow yourself to experience the same expectation of a day spent with God.
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