Sabbath in the Savior
Scripture: Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Colossians 2:16–17 – “Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you… about a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.”
Devotional Thought:
From the beginning, God wove rest into creation. He rested on the seventh day, not because He was tired, but to set a pattern for His people. Israel was commanded to “remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8).
But through Jesus, we see the substance of Sabbath. He is our true rest. The invitation is no longer to a single day, but to a Person. Jesus calls the weary, the distracted, and the overloaded to Himself.
This doesn’t mean Sabbath no longer matters. It means it’s fulfilled in Christ. We still need to practice rhythms of solitude, renewal, and worship. But our rest is not found in a rule—it’s found in a relationship.
Sabbath is about ceasing. Ceasing from striving. Ceasing from endless cultural noise. Ceasing from the illusion that we can carry everything on our own. It’s about dwelling in God’s presence instead of drowning in constant distraction.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you treat rest as a gift from God—or as something you can “get around to” later?
- What does it practically look like for you to stop striving and rest in Jesus this week?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are my rest. Forgive me for the ways I push past my limits and ignore Your invitation to stop. Help me to find true rest in You—not in entertainment, not in distraction, but in Your presence. Teach me to Sabbath in You. Amen.
Daily Practice:
Today, identify one activity you normally use to “veg out” (scrolling, gaming, binge-watching). Replace it with 20 minutes of spiritual rest: prayer, worship, or simply sitting with Scripture.