If you could put all your responsibilities aside for a day, and do whatever you wanted, how would you spend it?

Key points

• The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27 NIV)
•  It’s not so much that we have to do Sabbath, but we get to do Sabbath.
• Listen to the Sabbath Rest series and others on Real Hope | The Podcast.

---

In primary school, I remember sitting in scripture class and talking about Sabbath. The teacher was reminiscing about when everything was closed on Sundays… you couldn’t do your shopping, go to the movies, or do anything else that required someone to be at work.

I asked her why things weren’t that way anymore. She responded by saying that we don’t have to practice Sabbath because it was part of the law and Jesus dealt with that.

I dare you to imagine a day a week where you cast your burdens aside, and draw close to God through the people and things that bring you life.

That was my thinking about Sabbath until well into my adult life, until someone asked me the question above – how would you spend your ideal day? Crazy ideas aside, my dream day would start with a strong flat white or two, then some quality time with my family. I’d carve out a solid chunk of time to be quiet with my Bible and some music, then head out for a pedal on my mountain bike. It’d finish with a BBQ at the park with some good friends. (The other side of the question is: what things would you not do with that day? As much as I love social media, a day without it each week would probably be good for me!)

In Mark’s Gospel (2:27 NIV), Jesus declares, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’. This is a game changer – it’s not so much that we have to do Sabbath, but we get to do Sabbath. So I dare you to imagine a day a week where you cast your burdens aside, and draw close to God through the people and things that bring you life.

Listen to this episode in the player above.

Sabbath Rest is a six-week series inviting listeners to incorporate this Biblical practice into their everyday life. Subscribe to the YouVersion plan.

Subscribe to listen to this series and others on Real Hope | The Podcast.

---

Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro

Episode supplied with thanks to Chris Gresham-Britt.

Originally published as ‘An Ideal Day’ in Real Hope, Jan-Feb 2024.