Vacation is coming!  It's now just two short weeks away.

Our beach vacations typically include the following daily activities:

• Wake up and eat some cinnamon rolls or a bowl of cereal
• Lay on the beach and play in the surf for a couple of hours
• Swim in the pool for 30 minutes
• Afternoon naps (or shopping if we're feeling well rested)
• Early dinner to feast on fresh seafood
• Some type of evening activity (mini-golf, movie, shopping, etc.)
• Playing cards until bedtime
• Laura and I sitting on the balcony or walking the beach late at night (and me lighting up a cigar!)

There's usually a day of golf or fishing thrown in for me...or like this year...we're planning to rent a boat one day.

It's a good time.  It's refreshing.  And it's always over too soon!

Why do we long for vacation?  Are our daily lives really that miserable...or boring...or tiring?  The sad answer in most cases, is probably "yes."  We have overburdened ourselves with busy-ness, and refused to take a true "Sabbath" on a weekly basis.  Sure, we may go to church, or eat Sunday dinner with the family.  But does our "day of rest" really serve it's purpose?  The true purpose of the Sabbath...the very reason it exists according to scripture...is for RESTORATION. 

My "sabbaths" rarely result in true restoration.  Oh, sometimes that's the case.  But not nearly often enough!

In the evangelical world, we celebrate Christ's resurrection on Sunday (the first day of the week).  While it is not the actual Sabbath from a Biblical standpoint, it is a sensible day to use for the Sabbath.  But even our Sundays are packed full of activity, frustration, and sometimes work (to get caught up on the stuff we didn't get done during the week!).  

I don't want to go over the top here.  Even Jesus "broke" the Sabbath on occasion...or did He?

In Mark 2, He was criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath so He would have something to eat.  At that point, He pointed this out in Mark 2:27-28.  "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."  Jesus is basically saying here that the point of the Sabbath was not just for God to have some other law to enforce - but it was created for the good of man!

In John 7, Jesus comes under more attack for performing a miracle on the Sabbath.  And His response...in typical Jesus fashion...doesn't just rebuke the Pharisees...but offers an ever deeper understanding of the true intent of the Sabbath.  Look at Jesus' words in John 7:23.  "Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?"

So here we have Jesus explaining not only the design of the Sabbath (for healing and restoration) but also how that lines up with the overall purpose of His ministry (see Isaiah 61 for more details).

This brings me back to my own abuse of the Sabbath.  It's not even logical that I don't take time to slow down and rest and reflect.  If God is big enough and powerful enough and gracious enough and loving enough to make a way for my salvation through Jesus, then why wouldn't I take advantage of the other gifts He offers?  Gifts like the Sabbath.  An opportunity to stop and reflect on a busy week.  An opportunity to rest and recover physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Even God - who needs no rest - indicated the importance of the Sabbath to us when He rested on the 7th day after creation.  Why do we think we DON'T need it?  How prideful can we be?  Oh me of little faith!  Like the world would stop turning or my life would turn to shambles if I just laid down my busy-ness once a week to rest...who do I think I am?

And suddenly it becomes so clear why I value my vacation.  I'm trying to jam 52 weeks worth of un-rest into 7 days!  That kind of math will never add up.  Trying jam 52 days of rest into 7!  No wonder I think it's over too soon every year!

Now, I'm not being legalistic here.  There are certainly folks who work on Sundays, or there are acts of necessity that must be accomplished.  And sometimes, there are just things that need to be done - and Jesus made it clear that Sabbath was made for our benefit - and not to make another law for us to follow.  But the Sabbath...true restful, restorative Sabbath...is good for us.  We should strive to find a day of rest every week...even though we know there will be exceptions.

But I guess my real point is that we let those exceptions become the rule.  Even if you work on Sundays...there should be some other day of the week that can just be set aside for restoration.  It doesn't necessarily mean we do nothing and lay around all day.  But maybe sometimes it should!

Now I'm thinking about the fact that next Sunday, we're hosting a party at the house.  And while we'll enjoy it...it will definitely not be a day of rest for us.  So we need to find another day this week to make sure that we rest our minds and bodies.  It honors God.  It keeps our pride in check.  It makes us stronger and fresher for the daily grind we often face.  It gives us a chance to be quiet and hear from Him.  And let our hearts just sort of recharge.

When are you going to observe your Sabbath this week?  You need it.  I need it.  

If we can learn to truly enjoy the benefits of God's plan for weekly restoration...then maybe we could enjoy those vacations even more...and we won't be quite as sad when they're over!