Here we are at the beginning of the first Sabbath of A.D. 2018. We can speculate about many possible scenarios for noteworthy events due to occur any day now. We can plan for contingencies, stock up on supplies, and keep in physical trim. We can prepare to go into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature. Many of these are appropriate and worthwhile to do. Maybe God will call you to something different and important this year. He has, however, called us all to something very, very important. Starting today.

“Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. Six days you are to labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You are not to do any work, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your livestock, nor the alien who is within your gates, the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, in six days, then he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11 ISV)

The Hebrew verb “to rest”, in its various tenses, can mean one of several different things. Among them are settle down, let fall, let alone, let down, make to rest, or set down. As we begin this Sabbath I encourage each of you to apply the most appropriate word(s) above to your usual Sabbath day activities and see if there is any need for modification or deletion from your list. I will be doing the same thing. The thought of being out of sync with God’s activities on the Sabbath is very unpleasant, don’t you agree? I just got a new book for Christmas, The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn. I have heard quite a few chapters read in Sunday services and anticipate eagerly the chance to get more out of them by having leisure to read and ponder them. Hmmm, sounds just like a good Sabbath activity, doesn’t it?

Find your own settling down, setting down, letting down day and enjoy it.