September 16, 2023: Front Porch Sabbath

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, ESV)

Growing up, one of the things I liked to do was go to grandmas. She had a big porch around her house. The porch was the meeting place. If she were sitting on the porch, people would stop, step up on the porch and talk. As kids, the porch was where grandma sat and watched us play. Yes, the porch was the meeting place, intentionally created for friendship and connection.
    
When I think about God on the seventh day, resting and ceasing all work, I am reminded that God intentionally created a space for friendship and connection with me. Man's first day with God was a day of no labor so that he and God may become best of friends. God wanted man to know Him before man knew about work. God wanted man to know what rest was, before he knew what work was, so that he would always want to return.
    
We need to make space in our lives, to return to the place God created, so that we might sit with Him, know Him, and be with Him. It was to leave the realm of doing and enjoy the realm of being—with God. Sabbath rest is not about God controlling our schedule. It is about us wanting to be with Him.  The Sabbath is like God sitting on the porch waiting for you to come and sit.