When We Get Sabbath Wrong: Taking God’s Gift Seriously, RIP 2
- Jeff Gray
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
“Disciples rest in peace, huh?” No, I don’t mean six feet under. I mean that disciples should be able to rest without guilt — to put down the phone, close the laptop, and enjoy a day with family, friends, or just some quiet time with God.
But here’s the thing: we often get Sabbath wrong. Some of us turn it into a rulebook. Others treat it like a “lazy day pass.” And some of us blow right past it, thinking rest is for weak people who can’t grind hard enough.
Spoiler alert: all of those miss the point.
The great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon said it best: “Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… it is wisdom to take occasional furlough.” In other words, Sabbath is meant to refuel us for the week ahead — not to turn us into spiritual couch potatoes or legalistic policemen.
The Purpose Behind the Pause
From the very beginning, God set the pattern: six days of work, one day of rest (Genesis 2:1–3). When He gave the Law to Israel, Sabbath became a sign that they belonged to Him — a reminder that God is Creator and Redeemer (Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15).
Jesus took it further. He declared Himself “Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28) and reminded everyone that Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around. Translation? It’s a gift, not a guilt trip.
Ways We Mess It Up
Let’s be honest — here’s how we tend to misuse Sabbath:
Legalism Patrol: Turning Sabbath into a spiritual speed trap for others. “Oh, you mowed your lawn today? Tsk, tsk…”
Lazy Pass: Sleeping all day, streaming everything, and calling it “holy rest.” (Jesus did nap, but He didn’t binge-watch all afternoon.)
Selfish Saturday: Using Sabbath as an excuse to escape everyone else — ignoring your spouse, skipping church, or hiding from the kids.
Workaholic Mode: Acting like the world will stop spinning if you take a break. Hint: it won’t.
How to Get It Right
Sabbath doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s how to reclaim it:
Gather with God’s People. Worship should anchor the day — it reminds us who we are and whose we are.
Rest with Intention. Take a nap, yes — but also take time to be with God. Open your Bible, pray, journal, or simply be quiet.
Delight in Good Gifts. Share a meal, go for a walk, laugh with your kids. Joy is a form of worship.
Do Good. Jesus healed on the Sabbath. A kind word, a visit, or a shared meal can turn Sabbath into a blessing for others.
Refocus. Let Sabbath preach the gospel to you: you are not saved by what you do — you are saved by what Jesus has done.
So next Sabbath, don’t just collapse on the couch. Rest, rejoice, worship, and breathe deep. You’ll find yourself more alive, more grateful, and more ready to follow Jesus into the week ahead.
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