Once Robert and I noticed each other, we couldn’t find enough hours in a day to share life.

We ate all our meals together in the college cafeteria, studied together at the library, and held hands as we walked around the campus. When 10:00 curfew confined us to separate dorms, I sat in the tiny booth down the hall and talked on the phone with him until midnight.

I had never known anyone with such similar values, dreams, and interests. We longed to know each other better and to share life. We made a way to be together every chance we got.

Recently, while studying John, I read about Jewish leaders seeking to heal Jesus because He broke the laws of the Sabbath. The passage led me to look more closely God’s guidelines for the Sabbath. My findings reminded me of our dating days.

First, in brief summary, some truths from Scripture:

• God initiated the Sabbath as a day of rest from all work. He blessed it and sanctified it—set it apart to be different from other days. (Gen. 2:2-3; Ex. 20:8-10)
• The Sabbath is a memorial. It reminds us that God sanctifies us. Those who profane it are to be put to death (31:13-14).
• When a nation honors the Sabbath, the nation is honored and God is lifted up
• Not honoring the Sabbath, leads to destruction. (Jer. 17:21-27).
• Business and commerce as usual breaks the Sabbath (Jer. 17:21-27, Neh. 13:15-19).
• God desires that we cease from work and enjoy rest. Disobedience robs us of rest (Heb. 4:1, 4-11).

• Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Mt. 12:8, Mk, 2:28).
• It’s made for man. Man is not made for the Sabbath ((Mt. 12:8).
• It’s not set aside for our own pleasure, is God’s holy day and should be honored by delighting in the Lord. (Is 58:13-14).
• It’s lawful to do good on the Sabbath, not evil. (Mk. 3:4).
• It’s lawful to give life on the Sabbath, not death.   (Mk 3:4)
• We are to be diligent to rest from our work (Heb. 4:11).
• Rest helps keep us from falling (Heb 4:11).

There is more, but this is enough to show that honoring the Sabbath day is much more important to God than it has become to us as a nation. Indeed, more than it has become to us as His body.

Furthermore, we are missing blessings and reaping destruction because we have ceased to set the day apart as different from other days of the week.

However, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their list of laws designating what they couldn’t do because it would be working on the Sabbath. If we follow Jesus, rules of what to do and what not to do isn’t the answer.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, and He said it was made for man. So what does that mean? Why is a day set aside? What’s God’s purpose for the Sabbath? I’m sure it isn’t exhaustive, but I have several thoughts in answer.

1. First, the Sabbath is a sign, a memorial, a reminder to help us remember that our sanctification comes from God. Without a regular reminder, we get so tangled up in life’s busy pursuits that we forget God and our need for him. We need a reminder, so the Lord established it for us.
2. Second, we need regular rest from busyness. In fact, we need it to maintain health and perform our best. If we don’t schedule it, we won’t take it, so the Lord mandated it into our schedule—and then stressed how important it is.
3. While the particular work we can or can’t do on the Sabbath isn’t mandated, the work that Jesus did involved ministry and service, not personal gain.
4. Fourth, and I believe most important, we need time, intimate time, to fellowship with our Lord, to get to know Him more deeply and delight in Him.

If we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength, would we not delight to be with Him every chance we get? Just like Robert and I did during our dating years?

Our love for each other—imperfect though it was—drew us together. We delighted in being together and learning more about each other. We joyed in sharing life in all its ups and downs.

Our loving heavenly Father set aside a day because He knew our needs, that our schedules would be full, and our love lacking. His love is pure. He delights in us, wants to share life, and wants us to prosper rather than face destruction.

As I look at our nation and our world, I think it’s time to consider our ways and to find time to share life with our Maker.

The rendezvous time is set. And our Lord is waiting.