Resting in His goodness and love!

Reflecting on Luke 6:1-11

"Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil...?" (Luke 6:9)

At the end of my reflections, I will answer three questions:
1. How is Jesus encouraging or comforting me?
2. How is Jesus challenging or convicting me?
3. What is Jesus calling or compelling me to do?

God is love, and the whole creation was designed as a gift of love.
It was “very good” in the beginning, something to be shared and enjoyed by all.
Work and rest were built into the rhythm of life.
The last day was not just a one day break, but the new reality.
Adam and Eve, and all humanity, were created to live and work in Sabbath joy.

The ‘Sabbath Day’ in the Moses Law was a sign pointing to this rest.
It was a day to remember and look forward to resting in the goodness of God.
It was a religious symbol, pointing to a reality beyond itself.
But for the Jews it had become a Day of restriction and oppression.
The religious leaders multiplied rules for what you could not do.
The focus was on the negative (don’t) rather than on the positive (do).

And what was the intended ‘do’?
To enjoy and to share the goodness of God’s self-giving, other-serving love.
We are never to cease ‘doing good’, because that is the essence of Sabbath.
It is living in, and living out, the ‘very goodness’ of life in God’s world.
Healing, helping, feeding, serving, blessing, sharing, caring, giving… like God.
God never ceased from this work; this is God’s character, He cannot stop it.

Jesus embodies the ‘very goodness’ of God’s creation love.
He was like Adam and Eve were designed to be: like God in the world.
It was this God-like character in Adam and Eve that put them in charge.
They were made to be ‘Lord’ (highest authority) over God’s Sabbath kingdom.
Jesus is Adam renewed, ruling over and caring for God’s creation kingdom.
Jesus is making God’s world ‘very good’ again, every day of His life!

I was raised in a strong ‘sabbath day’ church tradition.
We were always asking ourselves about what we could and couldn’t do.
Could we buy gas on Sunday, could we go to the public library, or take public transit?
Could we do something that made someone else work?
Could we read the Monday newspaper, since it was assembled on Sunday?
The religious leaders of Jesus’s day did this too… on steroids!
Could you carry your possessions out of your burning home?
Could you rescue an animal that fell into a ditch?
Could you rub grain in your hands to eat a few kernels?
Still today, orthodox Jews are meticulous in not breaking the Sabbath Day.
When I was in Jerusalem, I discovered there was a Sabbath elevator in the hotel.
It stopped on every floor, so you wouldn’t work by pressing the button.

Jesus challenges religious people then and now: what is the point!?!?!?
Stop multiplying the rules of what you can’t do; just focus on one thing.
Do good, for it is always lawful in God’s kingdom to do good.
There are many, many things that are good for God, for self and for others.
Resting is good, singing is good, reading is good, eating is good.
Sharing is good, healing is good, helping is good, being together is good.
Taking a break from work is good, but going to work is good too.
If we are motivated by love for God and others, we will discern what love calls for.
There will be times when deciding what to do is not straightforward.
But as God’s image-bearers, we are free to choose – as lords of the Sabbath!
And we are free from the condemnation of others who might choose otherwise.

1. I am comforted by Jesus's view of Sabbath rest. I feel liberated from petty rule following, and blessed to be a blessing to others every day.

2. I feel Jesus's gentle conviction about my own motivations for each day, including Sundays. I admit that I am more likely to think about what I want to do, or what suits me, or is enjoyable to me. I do not consciously think what good thing can I do in this moment?

3. I am compelled to consciously think about this. Who can I bless today, how can I help someone today, where can I express my love to God, or to the people I meet today. There are so many good things I can do. I want to commit to this way of living... every day of the week!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for setting me free from the Law of Sabbath and restoring me to the Love of Sabbath. Thank You for releasing me from the rules, and inspiring with a heart to doing good and showing love. And thank You for releasing me from the condemnation of others who criticize me for what I do on the Sabbath. 

I choose to rest in You, as I share Your goodness and love with others.