Jesus’ Sabbath Invitation to Come | Matthew 11:25-30

Sabbath is God’s sacred rhythm reminding his redeemed creatures of his gracious generous provision. God wanted to create a whole culture different from the fallen nations of the world; a culture that would wholeheartedly receive his grace and whole heartedly surrender to him. Theirs was to be a culture where one’s life is a constant rhythm of receiving from God to offer back as willing, living sacrifices. No longer would they worship empty idols out of fear and lack but worship would be a reply to the One who made them and redeemed them to bless him, blessing others as…

In Egypt, the people of Israel had learned to survive as slaves. Their life was cheap and they were expendable. Everyone had to pull their weight. For many years they knew nothing but toil and pain. But God heard their cry and rescued them. gave them a new life. In this new life, he gave them the Sabbath as a lesson to learn to depend not on their own effort but on God’s grace. To live as the redeemed, free people of God would now mean to learn to depend, not on their own efforts, but on his generous grace.

In Genesis 1 and 2 God creates a good world with the power of his word. Day by day he shapes the world carving space and time for his creatures. Humanity is his final work, created at the end of the sixth day. Humanity is the last of God’s works. In his kindness, God provided Sabbath for his creatures, king and queen, as a provision to enter into the glory of his magnificent grace. Creation is to be enjoyed and used as a window into the goodness of God’s heart. An instrument of wonder and provision pointing back to that…