The Commandment We've Forgotten...

*Taken from my journal on 01/24/09. From Friday at around 4pm until the same time on Saturday, the entire Jewish quarter of Jerusalem becomes a ghost town. To help us understand the rhythm of the city (and to give us time to recuperate), we stay on the compound and take 24 hours of rest just as they do.*

It is interesting to get acquainted with the rhythm of Israel. In the States, we seem to have the mentality that the more we run, the more we will get accomplished. But after a long first week (albeit an amazing one) the sudden stop made all the difference.

While the concept of a weekly Sabbath seems lost on the greater Christian community, I don’t think that it’s something that God meant for us to do without.

After a week’s hard work, a day of reflection and rejuvenation is like the calm in the eye of the storm. It seems that life just flies by us most of the time. A moment to pause and capture what we so easily lose track of is of monumental importance in the believer’s life.

Keep the Sabbath holy… right up there with no murder, adultery or idolatry. I think God means business on this one.

It is a sort of admission that we'll never get everything done. And also a reminder to ourselves that the things which we can accomplish mean nothing if God is not at the center of our lives.

Thank God for Shabat.