It’s Friday. For many people another work week is drawing to a close and they’re looking forward to the weekend. Shopping. Football. Watching a movie. Maybe grilling a steak. TV. Fishing. More football. More shopping. Many people will be so busy this weekend when Monday rolls around and they have to go back to work, they’ll start the week dealing with sleep deprivation, emotional drain and other side effects of all fun.
This morning I was thinking about people who take a radically different approach to a weekend. For them, at the center of the weekend is their religion of choice. Most twenty-first century Christ-followers believe they’re free from the regulations related to Sabbath days. I agree with the perspective we have freedom, the bigger question is: Freedom to do what?
I am out of my area of knowledge, but researched a few things about what other religions do in regards to their weekends. Observant Jews begin the weekend with Shabbat (Sabbath), which starts at sundown on Friday and continues until Saturday night. There are 39 different activities which are prohibited during Shabbat. Since Sabbath means “rest” the list includes all most activities including work. Good Roman Catholics start their weekend on Fridays by eating fish. (Since I’ve never attended Mass, I’m wondering if they have problems with strong fishy smells in Catholic churches.) Muslims start their weekends by devoting Friday to prayer. All Muslim men are required to go to a mosque to pray on Fridays. It seems like most religions have specific practices for weekends, which make Friday and Saturday very different from the rest of the week. As far as major world religions go, it appears as though Christianity may have the fewest guidelines [practices] related to weekends. Don’t get mad at the messenger, I’m simply making an observation.
Jeremiah 29:13 conveys this powerful promise: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (NIV) Don’t stop reading at this point, thinking I’m going to suggest we need to return to all the Sabbath rules and regulations and start eating fish on Fridays. Personally, I love all of the freedoms we have in Christ. At the same, the question I asked earlier remains to be answered by each of us: Freedom to do what? I am pretty sure our freedom in Christ is NOT freedom to do nothing, as followers of Christ; to treat Sunday (Resurrection Day) as any other day of the week. If we feel like getting up and going to gather with other Christ followers, we could do that or, “Maybe I’ll just skip church this weekend and do something for me.”
In my recent posts I’ve been ruminating on the theme of the things we search and seek after in our lives. So I have a seeking question for you: Does how you approach Sundays demonstrate you are seeking after God with ALL your heart? Yeah, no, I am not asking if you eat fish and chips on Fridays. What I’m getting at is: Do you have intentional things you do to prepare for Sundays and gathering with other Christ followers?
When Paul wrote to his Gentile (non-Jewish) readers (Galatians 4:10; Romans 14:5; Colossians 2:16) and freed them from the rules regarding Sabbath, I am pretty sure it wasn’t his intention Christ followers would turn weekends into a time where each person does their own thing or a whole lot of nothing. Closer to his intent would be for those of us who claim to follow Christ, would use the freedom we’ve gained in him, to seek him with all of our heart.
As you approach this weekend, I want to encourage you to do four things:
1. EXPECT to encounter the Living God. Take time on Saturday or early Sunday to spend time with the Lord and prepare your heart to meet with God.
2. EAGER to hear from the Holy Spirit. If you attend a worship gathering this weekend it’s most likely you’re going to hear Bible teaching. Don’t just approach this special time in God’s Word as a learning exercise, where you’re gaining more spiritual knowledge. Be eager for the Spirit of Truth (a name Jesus gave the Holy Spirit, John 14:17) to speak personally to you.
3. Fully ENGAGE in worship. Worship is not about the songs, you know that. Worship is about giving God the glory and honor He alone is worthy to receive. Don’t hold back in your worship and praise.
4. Look for opportunities to ENCOURAGE and SERVE others. When you arrive at the location of your worship gathering have your spiritual eyes and ears open to opportunities to encourage someone. So many people get beat up by life during the week, and your kindness and caring will make a huge impact.
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