Rest

Series: Restore

Exodus 23:12 MSG

When I was young I remember two things more than any other day. You might think my most memorable days would have been holidays, but it’s not.

I remember Sundays. I remember what we did every Sunday after church.

We went visiting. We either saw my grandparents or we went to a larger gathering where we visited with extended family.

Going visiting wasn’t a chore. It was a time to see my grandparents and possibly my cousins.

I don’t remember being super excited about going to see them, but I was always happy when I was there. When it was warm we played outside and when it was cold we had our own spot where we could play inside.

Exodus 23:12 tells us,  “Work for six days and rest the seventh so your ox and donkey may rest and your servant and migrant workers may have time to get their needed rest.”

Growing up resting set a lifelong pattern for me.

Resting became a sacred time.

That’s the way it was in mid 20th Century American culture. We rested, especially on Sunday.

I was a little shocked to learn as an adult that Shabbat (which in Hebrew means to stop, cease, or rest) is from 6pm Friday to 6pm Saturday. On Sunday they work or run errands.

So why do Christian churches call Sunday a day of rest?

Once again as an adult I learned that Sunday is the first day of the week and it’s known as the Lord’s Day.

Early Christians gathered on the first day of the week to celebrate the day Jesus rose from the dead.

From a church history standpoint early Christians celebrated on Sunday. Then in 321 A.D. Emperor Constantine allowed Sunday to be set aside as a day of rest.

As far back as the resurrection, Sunday has been a worship day and in 321 A.D. it was recognized by the Western Roman Emperor to be a day of rest.

If you can…if you are able take a day of rest. Do something you love to do. That may be or it may be sitting on a hillside doing nothing. DO what restores you!

Deborah/acrazyjourney.com