Sabbath Rest: 2000 Sabbaths

by Marilynn Chadwick

I am reminded of the time David and I were invited to teach a marriage seminar to a large gathering of young couples. Wanting to focus on real life issues, we each made a separate list of our “Top Ten Marriage Tips.” However, we decided not to reveal the results of our lists to one another until the moment we actually presented the message to our audience.

It was fun to compare the different habits, practices, and insights we each felt had strengthened our marriage—right in front of our listeners. When it came time to “reveal” our top marriage tip, it turns out David and I had both chosen the same “Number One Marriage Tip.” It was simply this: Take one day off together every week. In other words, “Keep your Sabbath.”

Ironically, this was the very same advice our first ministry-couple mentors had shared with us way back when we were newlyweds. We took their advice to heart and over 45 years later, we still take our day off together each week. If you factor it over our 45-plus years of marriage and ministry, that’s about 2,000 Sabbaths!

Sabbath-keeping obviously looks different for our family since ministers typically work on Sunday, the day when many Christians celebrate Sabbath. Our Day Off is Friday. While we don’t adhere to a rigid set of rules, we have landed on some practices which make this day special, fun, even holy. We look forward to our weekly ritual of enjoying our favorite coffee. Parked in a quiet setting surrounded by nature, we share thoughts about our week and read through a few Bible passages. Often, we highlight and journal our specific prayer needs or play worship music. We sometimes laugh and cry about the joys and sorrows of family and ministry.

Long walks are a favorite, along with Netflix and special snacks reserved just for Day Off. It’s more about the regularity of Sabbath than any specific ritual. But God seems so very present on those sacred, sanctified, set apart days. Our weekly Day Off is more than just time away from work— it is a “want to,” not a “have to.” A gift of grace.

These times build fresh hope and healing. Our weekly Sabbath has provided life-giving boundaries to the rigors of ministry and gives creative space for our marriage and children to flourish. Like many today, our lives are very busy. Ministry comes with unexpected demands and emergencies. But most often, we’re able to keep our Sabbath calm and free from work. We believe our family and church have benefitted from our commitment to this God-ordained, ancient practice.

What are some ways you can begin to create a rhythm of rest into your own lifestyle?

Sabbath Rest: Finding Your Rhythm of Rest

by Marilynn Chadwick

Are you feeling tired today? Maybe you worked late, slept poorly, tried to juggle too many tasks, attempted to solve too many problems, took on too much responsibility for everything and everybody around you. It seems you’re not alone. America is a nation obsessed with rest—or the lack of it.

At my children’s high school one year, teachers sent home a disturbing article about sleep deprived teenagers. Researchers are telling us that people now fantasize about sleep! It seems the average person is very, very tired. You may be working harder, running faster, accomplishing more and more… but who’s watching out for your soul?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

I’ve been drawn to Jesus’s promise of rest after observing some very “exhausted souls” lately. Exhaustion can manifest itself as anxiety, depression, illness, addiction, or even self-destructive behaviors. This has left me thinking. Why are so many people crashing and burning?

What would happen if we revived the spiritual practice of Sabbath-keeping? I wonder if Sabbath—in whatever ways we choose to practice it—might help set us free from the weight of unhealthy expectations and lessen the anxieties of fast-paced living? Since the time of ancient Israel, Sabbath-keeping has been a life-giving gift of God.

Sabbath was meant to refresh our relationship with God and one another. For the next several days, we’ll explore the biblical and practical foundations of Sabbath-keeping. How does this once-a-week gift of rest bring peace to those who embrace it? How is Sabbath woven into God’s covenant with Israel? What significance does it have for Christians today? We’ll also explore some practical ways we can experience the rest of Sabbath in a busy, noisy world.

The Fruit of the Spirit: A Life Under Control

by David Chadwick

Self-control. This is the ninth and final fruit of the Spirit.

When you are connected to the Spirit, you have the power to discipline and crucify even the strongest lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:17).

I once heard a story of a pastor who never taught self-control to his people because he couldn’t govern his own eating habits. Shame on him! This last fruit of the Spirit should never be overlooked because of someone’s fleshly inadequacies or impulses.

Someone who lacks self-control in one area inadvertently leaves the door open to lacking self-control in other areas of life. When you refuse to live a disciplined, self-controlled life, you are walking in the utmost selfishness.

While you can be delivered from a demon, you can’t get delivered from your flesh. You must discipline your flesh and let it die. Only by renewing your mind can you reckon your flesh dead (Romans 12:2). The Bible says that when you put your trust and hope in Jesus, you have been crucified with Christ. You no longer live, but Christ now lives in you (Galatians 2:20).

Slowly but surely, your flesh remains dead as you reckon it dead. And as you rightly see your flesh crucified with Christ, your true identity will emerge as a son or daughter of the Most High King of the Universe and the fruit of the Spirit will begin to flow through your life more and more, giving you more self-control.

Because of Jesus, you can conquer your lusts, your sins, your flesh. But the key is found in abiding in Christ and remaining connected to the Spirit. We must cling to the message of abiding in John 15:7. As we remain in Christ, we will bear much fruit!

Finally, notice Paul ends this list with, “And against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:23).  What does this mean? Well, it is actually quite simple. It means that the fruit of the Holy Spirit cannot come through the Law. You can’t muster up enough obedience. You can’t try harder or work more to possess these nine fruit of the Spirit.

They only and always come from abiding.

Be one with Jesus. Rest and remain in him. As you do, ALL the fruit, every one of these nine, will show up in the life of a follower of Jesus. What happens when it starts to go away? Go back and check the power source. Make sure you are connected to the vine (John 15:5). These “fruit” are guaranteed to the Christ follower who abides in Jesus.

Apart from him we can do nothing…but connected to him, all things are possible!