Jesus at the Center
Scripture Reading — Colossians 2:13-23
Do not let anyone judge you by … a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
—Colossians 2:16-17
The practices of Sabbath we’ve been exploring this month include pausing from our labors, remembering what God has accomplished for us in Jesus, embracing the value of people, and rejoicing in Jesus’ death and resurrection. We’ve also considered a close cousin to these Sabbath disciplines, the practice of silence and solitude.
Each of these should become part of the rhythm of our lives. If we want to grow in our relationship with Jesus, we’ll look for opportunities to practice Sabbath daily.
We should not fall into the trap of thinking about Sabbath strictly in terms of a special day of the week. In fact, Paul warned the Colossian believers not to let anyone judge them by the manner in which a particular feast or day of the week was observed. Keeping religious festivals and observing religious rites, though important, can never be at the center of a relationship with Jesus. According to Paul, such regulations “have an appearance of wisdom,” but in the end, “they lack any value” in empowering us to live holy lives. Israel’s festivals and celebrations were only ever intended to point people toward the coming Christ. Such rules were a mere shadow; Christ is the reality!
Jesus needs to be central to all our living—not just on the Sabbath or Lord’s Day but every day of our lives.
Thank you, Father, for welcoming us by your grace. Our relationship is founded on what you have done for us in Christ! Amen.
About the author — Shawn Brix
Rev. Shawn Brix has served as pastor in several Ontario churches. He and his wife, Jenny, have three children.
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