The Sabbath in Christianity is a day of rest like the Jewish Sabbath. Unlike Jewish tradition, held on Saturday every week, Christians started to observe this time on Sunday. During early Christianity, believers would celebrate Sunday, the day Christ rose from the dead. The Apostles would meet on the seventh day to break bread, and this became a regular occurrence.

This replaced the Sabbath, and many Christians today believe that observing the Sabbath was directed to God’s people of the Old Testament. This was before Christ, and even the Lord was criticized for healing on the Sabbath. Corinthians 2 states: “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

What is the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is define by Merriam-Webster as: “the seventh day of the week observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening as a day of rest and worship by Jews and some Christians : Sunday observed among Christians as a day of rest and worship.”

Today people go to Church, worship, and pray. Many also refrain from working or doing chores, but this is often complicated today with the schedules, family, and even church commitments.

The “Lord’s Day,” and the Sabbath should be included in our schedules. After all, it is commanded in the 10 Commandments. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”

Here are the benefits of observing the Sabbath.

The Sabbath is about readjusting our focus back towards God and allowing Him to become more present in our lives. This is in addition to observing Sunday. It is taking time to be grateful and to acknowledge that He is our source. Despite how hectic life can be, we need to learn to slow down. This can be an additional day to set aside for the Lord. The women rested on the Sabbath in “obedience to the commandment (Luke 23:56).”

Observing the Sabbath unites the community. In Israel stores close mid-afternoon on Friday until Sunday morning to observe the Sabbath so people can prepare their homes and invite people to honor the Lord. We can invite people to break bread, worship, read scriptures, and pray for each other. This can be a time to us to prayer and build each other up in the Lord. James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

There is something special about putting God first and worshiping with others as well. “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing (2 Thessalonians).” Observing the Sabbath will force you to unplug. In Israel, many Jews abstain from all electronics, to avoid distractions, and to keep God at the center.

This is good practice for all of us to cast down distractions. Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Besides growing spiritually, this is an opportunity to realize what is important. More than money, popularity, and material assets, this time put aside will help us realize what is more valuable. We all get entangled with ourselves and the God of this World.

A great scripture is found in 2 Peter 3:13: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” Earthy possession can choke out the love and zeal we have for God and it happens subtly.

By observing Sabbath helps reassess the importance of God, people, and sin that is slowing down special progression.

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1).