For modern families, the concept of Sabbath can feel like just another thing we are supposed to do — or perhaps, a list of things we are not supposed to do. For some, it may feel like a mandatory call to be at church on Sundays, no matter what. For others, it may feel like a restriction on everything we do on the Sabbath, limiting our ability to have fun and enjoy ourselves.
But neither of these reflects God’s intentions for the Sabbath. His purpose has always been to give us a gift — a gift of remembering Him through rest. These words from Exodus reveal this purpose…
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy." Exodus 20:8-11 NLT
Unlike the other commandments that God gave His people that day, this one begins with an invitation to remember. It is an invitation to remember how God established the Sabbath. It is an invitation to remember that God, our creator, holds the whole world in His hands and does not need us to do anything other than remember this truth and celebrate it once each week.
And it is this invitation to remember that is the reason He invites us to rest. Because when we rest, we more easily remember that God always has and always will take care of us. He knows that we need to rest, not only for our physical health but also for our spiritual health. We need to rest so that we remember His goodness. We need to rest so that we remember to rely on Him to provide all that we truly need. We need to rest so that we remember that God is God — and we are not.
How can you share the purpose of Sabbath with the families in your church and community? How can you repackage this gift from God in ways that eliminate guilt and restrictions and instead invite them to remember God through rest? Here are a few ideas…
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Check your ministry schedule to ensure that you are not overscheduling families. Designate time and space on your church calendar when you can encourage families to simply be together, resting and remembering.
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Have conversations about Sabbath with parents and volunteers in your ministry. Talk about ways all of you can model God’s purpose for children by creating a restful, relaxed pace at church. Minimize hurry; rely on God to provide what is truly needed.
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Establish a regular time in your ministry when you invite children to remember something God has done in their lives by drawing a picture or writing a short story about it. Shape the time so that it is restful and not hurried, allowing children time to reflect and respond at a relaxed pace.
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Provide families with something specific to remember about God each month. It can be as simple as a Bible verse or a short story about something God has done in your own church community. Share it in ways that help families return to it again and again, such as regular social media posts or a piece of drawing or writing that can be displayed at home.
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