SCRIPTURES ABOUT SABBATH
SABBATH
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Exodus 20:8
God spoke to Moses: "Tell the Israelites, 'Above all, keep my Sabbaths, the sign between me and you, generation after generation, to keep the knowledge alive that I am the God who makes you holy. Keep the Sabbath; it's holy to you. There are six days for work but the seventh day is Sabbath, pure rest, holy to God. The Israelites will keep the Sabbath, observe Sabbath-keeping down through the generations, as a standing covenant. It's a fixed sign between me and the Israelites. Yes, because in six days God made the Heavens and the Earth and on the seventh day he stopped and took a long, deep breath. Exodus 31:12-17 sel. (MSG)
You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of complete rest, an official day for holy assembly. It is the Lord’s Sabbath day, and it must be observed wherever you live. Leviticus 23:3 (NLT)
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5:13-15 sel. (GWT)
Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong. Isaiah 56:2b (NLT)
If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage; if you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God's holy day as a celebration; if you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there — then you'll be free to enjoy God! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! God says so! Isaiah 58:13-14 (MSG)
I myself am God, your God: Keep my statutes and live by my laws. Keep my Sabbaths as holy rest days, signposts between me and you, signaling that I am God, your God. Ezekiel 20:20 (MSG)
RELAX OBSESSIVE STRICTNESS ABOUT SABBATH
Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath! Mark 2:27-28 (NLT)
On a certain Sabbath Jesus was walking through a field of ripe grain. His disciples were pulling off heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands to get rid of the chaff, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing that, breaking a Sabbath rule?" But Jesus stood up for them. "Have you never read what David and those with him did when they were hungry? How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? He also handed it out to his companions." Then he said, "The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he's in charge." On another Sabbath he went to the meeting place and taught. There was a man there with a crippled right hand. The religion scholars and Pharisees had their eye on Jesus to see if he would heal the man, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction. He knew what they were up to and spoke to the man with the crippled hand: "Get up and stand here before us." He did. Then Jesus addressed them, "Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?" He looked around, looked each one in the eye. He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out—it was as good as new! They were beside themselves with anger, and started plotting how they might get even with him. Luke 6:1-11 (MSG)
But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? Luke 13:15 (NLT)
REST
God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Psalm 23:1-3a (MSG)
If you are worn out and overloaded, come to me, and I will let you put your feet up. Come and work for me, and take a leaf out of my book. I am gentle on people, and down-to-earth; and with me your whole being will be able to relax. The job I will give you is piece of cake. The load I will ask you to bear is a feather-weight. Matthew 11:28-30 (Laughingbird)
But God has promised us a Sabbath when we will rest, even though it has not yet come. On that day God's people will rest from their work, just as God rested from his work. Hebrews 4:9-10 (CEV)
So we must make every effort to enter that place of rest. God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joint and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions. Hebrews 4:11-12 (GWT)
RENEWAL
You, LORD, are my guide in the wilderness; there is nothing more I could need. You set up camp in places of beauty and shelter; you lead the way on secluded tracks beside creeks of cool clean water. I feel my spirit breathing freely again; your reputation puts me at ease; I leave the navigating to you, and follow. Even if we hike through a perilous valley, where crows keep a menacing watch, fear will still not get the better of me. As long as I stick with you I know I’ll make the distance; with a knife and a bit of rope you seem able to tackle any challenge. You cook up a feast for me, as those who wanted to feed on me watch, frustrated. You pamper me like an honoured guest and constantly top up my glass. My life feels charmed, each and every day. Love, mercy and all good things keep falling into my lap. I’m with you for life, LORD, where you go, I’ll go; where you live, I’ll live. Psalm 23 (Laughingbird)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (AMP)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NLT)
And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]. Ephesians 4:23 (AMP)
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 (NIV)