Ever find yourself or a friend asking, “How do I keep the Sabbath holy?” and “What does Sabbath-keeping look like in the twenty-first century?” These are good questions—and the Bible has answers for us today!
Spend time in Nature: In the beginning, when God blessed the Sabbath, He spent the first Sabbath with Adam and Eve in nature (Genesis 2). We can also find rest and refreshment when we set aside special time on Sabbath to spend in God’s second divine book—nature.
Worship together: During His time on earth, Jesus gave us His example of joining other believers in study and worship on the Sabbath. “As His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16). The apostle Paul encourages us to meet together often as we see the approach of Christ’s Second Coming (Hebrews 10:25).
Bring joy to others: Jesus also spent time on the Sabbath bringing joy and healing to others. Often His Sabbath miracles took place in the synagogue. We can follow His example by sharing music, an uplifting note or visit, or even a phone call to a friend or neighbor in need of encouragement.
Spend time with family and friends: Sabbath is a day for relationships. The Sabbath commandment specifically includes everyone who is willing to take part in it. The Lord said, “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Exodus 31:13). God intended for us to share the Sabbath with our children and grandchildren. Jesus often spent time on Sabbath with His disciples, visiting in their homes or out in nature (Matthew 8:14, 12:1). Sabbath allows us guilt-free time outside of our busy lives to build relationships with our families and friends.
Worship alone: All of us need to reconnect with the Lord on a personal level. The Sabbath Psalm encourages us to take time for intimate worship and reflection. The psalmist writes “For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep” (Psalm 92:4, 5).
As you consider how you spend the Sabbath hours,
click here to take a few minutes to review this encouraging article.