“Sunday, A Day of Rest”『主日與休息』

By: Szu Mao; Translated By: Evnlyn Lee（林一華）

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Faith unites us together; we care for one another, and encourage one another, an individual under the support of such fellowship, finds orderliness, direction and hope.

We come to God to receive His words and His grace and we feel the biggest contentment and joy. To worship on Sunday is far from wasting of time because it is during the time of worship, God’s bountiful blessing and love are bestowed upon us. Our souls eventually find calm and sure hiding place to rest.

On Sundays, Christians greet one another with “ Peace”. “Peace” (Shalom) in its full context includes health, wealth, success, satisfaction, contentment and tranquility etc…… We come to God to receive so much of His blessings that we would treasure these blessings. Therefore, Sunday is God’s grace in its full completeness. Church chorale music, hymnals, prayers and God’s words in the Bible, all help us to reach God’s grace in its fullness.

The Jews emphasize “Seven” as a complete number. This is God’s creation in its right order. Every seven days is a complete body, and on every Sunday, every family conjugates in the church as a big and happy family, making a church as a combination of all complete bodies. In this complete body we share God’s glory as well as we share our heavy burdens, thus magnify God’s complete love.

We see the world with a different perspective on Sunday. It reorganizes our relationship with God, our relationship with men, our relationship with ourselves, our relationship with nature and the surroundings. On Sunday, Christians other than receiving blessings from our almighty God, the most important thing is to observe the day as holy among the worldly events. The percentage of Christians among the Koreans is quite high. Those who close the stores and stop all businesses are mostly Christians; they observe the day as holy. As Christians, we set worship as our priority, and from the relaxation we enjoy God’s enlightenment grace and blessings.

Moreover, Christians are joyful on Sundays as it is a festive celebration. This celebration is the rhythm of life for this festival brings us joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us and keep us in His grace. It deserves all our attention. This celebration reminds us of God’s act of creation, salvation and Christ’s power of resurrection. On Sunday we celebrate the wonders of life, it acknowledges the repetition of history while it also acknowledges the positive side of life. Such enjoyment and cheerful hearts brings life’s richest gifts and renewal strength.

We think of “rest” as a physical need, but in actuality if our spirit is not at peace, our physical cannot rest properly. Even without a routine job, our physical and mental well being may not be at ease. The real peaceful rest is a commitment, a complete commitment to God… We submit to Him and let Him make decision for us and let Him be in charge of our life while carry our burdens as well. God gave the Jews a living ritual that was resting at sunset and the working at sunrise, first we enjoy rest, and then we gain strength to work. God let rest be the prelude to our daily work.

“Rest” is an enjoyment; it gives a person a sense of peace, harmony and tranquility. Where this is peace there is no war or fighting, and where there is harmony there is no conflict or contradiction. Psalm 23: The Lord is our shepherd He makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us besides the quiet waters. (very quiet place). Therefore, Sunday is the key to enjoy God’s presence and regain our strength.

Actually, resting is a physical relaxation too. After resting there is an awakening and restoration. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 It mentions that Sabbath day was meant for physical rest, not only for the masters, it included the servants and animals. There was a saying, “Beggars hope for festivities and servants hope for rainy days”. There was plenty of food at the festivities and no work on rainy days. But the Jewish servants got to rest on one day out of seven days even the animals were not exception.

Once there was a joke. A Jewish man sold his ox to a gentile. Normally, the ox worked very hard but he would not move a muscle on Sabbath days. The new master was angry, he thought he was cheated by the Jew by buying a sick ox, so he went to see the old master who expected this to happen. He went by the side of the ox and whisper in his ear, then, the ox got up and worked as usual. The new master was surprise and he asked:”

What did you say to the ox?”

The old master replied,” I told the cow, now that he has a new master, he does not rest on Sabbath days even on Sabbath days he has to work, that is why the cow got up after he heard this”.

This may be a joke, but it implies that Sabbath day among God’s people is a special day, a holy day set apart from the rest of the week. Its implication and meaning is far beyond from merely “resting”.

green pastures and leads us besides the quiet waters. (very quiet place). Therefore, Sunday is the key to enjoy God’s presence and regain our strength.

Actually, resting is a physical relaxation too. After resting there is an awakening and restoration. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 It mentions that Sabbath day was meant for physical rest, not only for the masters, it included the servants and animals. There was a saying, “Beggars hope for festivities and servants hope for rainy days”. There was plenty of food at the festivities and no work on rainy days. But the Jewish servants got to rest on one day out of seven days even the animals were not exception.

Once there was a joke. A Jewish man sold his ox to a gentile. Normally, the ox worked very hard but he would not move a muscle on Sabbath days. The new master was angry, he thought he was cheated by the Jew by buying a sick ox, so he went to see the old master who expected this to happen. He went by the side of the ox and whisper in his ear, then, the ox got up and worked as usual. The new master was surprise and he asked:” What did you say to the ox?”

The old master replied,” I told the cow, now that he has a new master, he does not rest on Sabbath days even on Sabbath days he has to work, that is why the cow got up after he heard this”.

This may be a joke, but it implies that Sabbath day among God’s people is a special day, a holy day set apart from the rest of the week. Its implication and meaning is far beyond from merely “resting”.