Sometimes as humans we take God’s rhythm and turn it into human legalism. It is an easy mistake to make, and one that masquerades as holiness. There are countless examples of this happening throughout scripture. Jesus spent much of His teaching calling out Jewish leadership for their hypocrisy and legalism. Not much has changed in the 2000 years since Jesus said these words.
My parents came to deep faith in their 30s. My dad in particular had a Holy Spirit encounter at a men’s retreat. That weekend became a marker for our family, and afterward he was drastically different as a husband and as a father. He brought obedience, devotion to scripture, and Christian community into the rhythm of our family, and I will forever be grateful for the foundation my parents made for me. Because of their rededication later in life, both of my parents made lifestyle changes that I believe God truly called them to as part of their sanctification. But then as I grew older I took those lifestyle choices upon myself and called it holiness. It took years of unpacking for the Holy Spirit to show me that I did not need to carry their convictions. I was taking their obedience and using it as legalism to live my life by.
Then there was a season when I encountered the rest of God. I spent hours reading scripture and sitting at the foot of the cross. Inside the rest that God created for me, I let go. God was not asking me to spend my life proving my love through sacrifice. He just wanted me to be with Him. Through Sabbath, Jesus showed me how He could be Lord over my life.
Where might God be inviting you to exchange sacrifice for mercy? May our rest in Him through the practice of Sabbath lead to less sacrifice and more mercy.