When the Sabbath is introduced to the people of God in the Ten Commandments (yes, taking a day of rest is important enough to God to include it with the other nine “thou shalt/not”s!), it is because of this: “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.” Our resting is part of our being like God. Barbara Brown Taylor says this: "Stop for one whole day every week, and you will remember what it means to be created in the image of God." Have you ever thought about rest like this? Not just as a thing that might be good for you (or even a commandment), but as something that is actually living into reflecting the image of God in us? Rest is not a concession because we aren’t strong enough to go-go-go all the time without it. It is an integral part of what it is to be human. And as a human, to be like God. So, today, this week, when you take intentional times to stop and rest (whether that’s one full day, or in smaller chunks in each day), reflect on your being like-God when you do. Let God be with you in your stopping (in God’s stopping!). Stop. Rest. Be. Like God.

Posted by Jamie Bonilla at 2022-08-16 14:15:52 UTC