Getting Back On Track

Exodus 20:8-10
One of the first lessons I learned in leadership is that it is much easier to get off track then it is to get back on track. This is true no matter where you are in life. It is especially true in our spiritual walk with God. The world has an uncanny way of drawing our attention away from the things that are most important, and if we are not careful we can find ourselves far from where it is we need to be. This is a fact of life, the nature of the beast for being human, and finding the time to regroup and correct our paths can be very challenging. Maybe this is why God decreed to Moses, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God (Exodus 20:8-10).” Christ, in trying to vindicate his disciples for picking heads of grain on the Sabbath, explained to the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).” The Pharisees, as well as many of us, had lost sight of the intended purpose of the Sabbath; to provide spiritual rest and strengthening for God’s people. It was a time set aside for man to free themselves from the anxieties of the world, and find solace and refuge in the presence of a loving God. This could be why the Sabbath is the most revered and loved of all the Jewish Holy days. A matter of fact, in the Jewish culture, those who observe the Sabbath are regarded as if they have observed all of God’s word. And there is more Jewish literature, whether legal, mystical, or homiletic, on the subject of the Sabbath than any other subject. The Sabbath day is a day for God’s people to put aside the needs of the world, and to focus on their creator. It is a day to study God’s word; to sing, praise, and worship our creator. It is a day to take pause and recognize God for all His marvelous works in our lives. Not a day for physical rest and relaxation, but a day for spiritual rest and strengthening. So, is a Sabbath day still needed; absolutely. Every time we rise up or and lie down we should choose to separate ourselves from the world long enough to focus on that which is most important. Unfortunately, because life doesn’t always allow for such escapes, we must remember to set aside one day to help us focus our attentions back on Him. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things (Philippians 4:8).” What a most fitting description for the Sabbath day. It is a time to think about such things, to pull ourselves away from the distractions of everyday life, to focus on that which is most important, a time we all need for getting back on track. [mp]

Copyright © 2006
Michael D'Urbano
All rights reserved
www.modernpapyrus.org