A message from Dennis Pass

Have you ever hoped that life would slow down just a little bit?  This past Friday I was on duty with the sheriff’s office till after midnight. It had been a busy day earlier, planting seeds for our spring garden, fixing a myriad of toys or other items for the children, and helping Kristi prepare for the Sabbath. So I ended up getting to bed about 1:30 a.m.

With children, sometimes the Sabbath is not quite as restful as I would naturally wish. So where did the Sabbath go? I’ve come to realize over the years that the Sabbath is not always what I do, but where my heart is. Though I prefer to stop Friday night with my family and welcome the day, there may be times when circumstances prevent that. Yet God is always there, and even if it seems like life has not really stopped, the Sabbath has still come, and He does bring rest to our spirits.

I think sometimes it’s a matter of perspective. What are we thinking of when the Sabbath arrives? Are we thinking of enjoying a day to do our own thing because we don’t have to go to work, or perhaps a day when we can sleep in and do nothing? Is this a day when we can do all the things that we wanted to do but didn’t have a chance to get to during the week?

It’s none of these. We know that it’s ultimately about spending time with the Lord of the Sabbath, our greatest Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, on the Sabbath, even if we don’t seem to be able to stop physically as much as desired, we can inwardly stop and remember Jesus Christ and the Sabbath day.

He has not only commanded us to honor the Sabbath, but has provided it to bring a rest for our souls that is like no other. Though my body may be tired, my heart still rests in Him. Regardless of where you are, just remember that the Sabbath comes, and we can meet it and find rest in God.