Reflection for February 21

I walked away from the sermon last week feeling lifted up since Pastor Jason talked about the Sabbath (Shabbat) as a time to seek rest and stop. It is time to reconnect with God. The 4th Commandment is “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. Jesus is our Sabbath. He carries our burdens and brings us life. He brings us restoration. Our rest comes from God, and Jesus assured us we are loved, known, and rested. The Pharisees had 39 prohibitions on the Sabbath so they couldn’t spit, plow the dirt, eat, or do anything. Yet, Jesus called a man with a withered hand and healed him on the Sabbath. Just as Jesus healed the man’s hand so he could work again, He heals our minds so we can live again. Jesus showed us there is mercy and restoration rather than restriction. The Sabbath is a purposeful time to be made whole. Jesus is the bearer of our burdens. He invites us to move beyond the “rush” of productivity to a place where our worth is defined by being loved and known rather than by what we achieve. We can take maybe ten minutes to explicitly stop and breathe so we can lean into His finished work. We receive the healing and a clear mind. Our restoration comes from God. He is the Sabbath. We can rest in Him. Reflections from Deborah Kelly. Share your reflections with deborah@rbcommunity.org and let me know your thoughts.