sabbath – Be Still…

Mark 2:18-3:6 – Draw Close to God

Fasting has become quite a fad these days in the health and wellness space. But what those gurus describe is a lot different than the fasting referred to in this passage. In a Biblical context, fasting is a spiritual discipline designed to draw people closer to God and God’s will for their lives. Jesus’ teaching about fasting reveals a lot.

It makes sense that because God is already with his disciples, they don’t need a special time of devotion. Every moment spent with Jesus draws them closer to God. Jesus uses the example of a groom and a wedding feast. Of course, Jesus is the groom in the story. Continue reading “Mark 2:18-3:6 – Draw Close to God”

Ezekiel 46:1-24 – Let’s Talk About Worship

Read Ezekiel 46:1-24

So much detail is given by Ezekiel about this temple including its size, construction, purpose, and the people who would be tasked in particular ways. And yet, this temple has not yet been built. We can’t help but ask, “why did God give Ezekiel this vision, and will it ever be constructed?”

Perhaps that isn’t the point. Perhaps God gave Ezekiel this vision to be more of a grounding force to help the people in exile start their lives anew when the time of restoration began. Please know I am only speculating because I certainly don’t have any answers. I’m as perplexed as most people trying to make sense of these chapters. Continue reading “Ezekiel 46:1-24 – Let’s Talk About Worship”

Ezekiel 20:1-26 – Obedience Gives Life

Read Ezekiel 20:1-26

What surprised you more—that leaders of Israel came to God for answers or that God refused to give them what they wanted? We’re not told who these men were or what their agenda really was. But Ezekiel was faithful and expected God to respond.

God’s response was more of a rebuke, putting those Israelites in their place. Just in case those leaders weren’t familiar with what had happened centuries before, they were now informed. It never ceases to amaze me how many chances God gave his rebellious people. Our human frailty would not have allowed us to be as patient. Continue reading “Ezekiel 20:1-26 – Obedience Gives Life”

Mark 2:23-28 – What About the Sabbath?

Read Mark 2:23-28

Don’t you love how Jesus so matter-of-factly responded to those nit-picking Pharisees? I can’t fault the Pharisees because of their strict adherence to rabbinic interpretation of the law. They hadn’t heard Jesus’ preaching on how obedience to the law is not what saves you. If they had heard it, they hadn’t truly listened and understood the significance it made in their lives.

But God did command us to keep the Sabbath holy. As Jesus explains, the Sabbath was given to meet the needs of people, specifically the needs for nest and spending time with God. At the time this gospel was written, the observance of the Sabbath would have been a burning question in religious circles.

Jeremiah 17:19-27 – Keep the Sabbath Holy

Read Jeremiah 17:19-27

stone tablets with Exodus 20:8 quoted to Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Keeping the sabbath holy is an act of obedience, and obedience leads to life. God wants to be the center of our world and setting aside this one day for him is not too much to ask. Is it? You can read in Exodus 31:12-17 where God gave Moses instructions about the Sabbath.

As I was reflecting on today’s reading in Jeremiah, it struck me that the idea of honoring the Sabbath would be so foreign to God’s disobedient children. It doesn’t seem very likely many were keeping the Sabbath at all. Yet, this is God’s message, and it speaks as a reminder of his hopes for his people.