Earlier this week, my time of extended “renewal,” or as I like to call it, sabbatical, came to an end. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that I’ve ceased resting or observing Sabbath rest, but the time for me to be away has come to a close. And guess who was waiting for me when I returned? Satan. The weird thing is that he had a smirk on his face, as if he was up to something. And he was. And he is.
Apparently he’s looking for a fight, and he’s been working non-stop preparing, planning, scheming, how he will attack. He never rests. It reminds me of a cliche that I’ve heard many church-going, yet clueless, people use (God love them) throughout my ministry years in reference to resting: “The devil doesn’t take a vacation, why should you?” I’ve thought about that over the years, and have come up with some decent one-line responses, such as: “Because I don’t want to end up like YOU.” Or, “Because my aim in life is to NOT be like the devil.” Or, just a simple thought of, “Idiot.” The last one, I’m almost sure, isn’t Christ-like, but I’m just being honest. “You brood of vipers” just didn’t seem to fit.
But probably the best answer, the Scriptural answer, is that I choose to rest because God commands it, and at the same time, invites me into it. I’ve found that to keep that command, even on the Sabbath, is a fight. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Satan cringes when we observe Sabbath rest, simply because he detests obedient followers of Jesus. I’m sure he’s aware that a Christ-follower who experiences the true rest of Jesus is one who develops a new way of thinking; which creates a new perspective regardless of his or her circumstances; who is much more refreshed, and therefore much more aware of God’s activity and Satan’s tactics. Satan hates the Sabbath.
Think about it this way: if the enemy can convince you that your busyness is more important, more necessary, more profitable than Sabbath rest, you open yourself up to the fallible thought that your way of living life is better than God’s way. To ignore Sabbath rest is the catalyst of forgetting God. And forgetting God is a dangerous thing.
That’s why you must fight for rest. You must guard diligently against letting others, as well-intended as they may be, from stealing your time of rest with God; guard your schedule; guard your family time; guard your time in His Word; guard your play time. There’s always going to be one more item on your list. There’s always going to be one more load of laundry to wash. There’s always going to be one more visit you need to make. You do what you can, when you can, but guard Sabbath rest. Even Jesus left those who were in need of healing, desiring His presence at their dinner party, wanting counseling, so that He might rest.
I wonder . . .what if Jesus had not taken time to rest? In His humanity, surely it would’ve affected Him. The truth is we’re not sure what would have happened. So, I’ll not assume much more. But what we do know is this: He left the many to rest in the presence of the ONE He called “Abba.” Although there is fighting for the rest, there is no fighting in His rest.
So, crawl up in His lap. I’ve found that His lap is big enough for you to take a nap; take a walk; read His Word; read a wholesome book; talk to Him; be playful; worship Him. But in all things, rest.