Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 23, 2023: SOAP #4830: Numbers 12-13; Psalm 90; Mark 2

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 2:27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

OBSERVATION:  Jesus was referring back to the account of creation in the first chapter of Genesis.  After man was created on the sixth day, God set the seventh day as the Sabbath.  If an earlier day had been set as the Sabbath, one might say that man was created to honor the Sabbath.  But the Sabbath came after the creation of man; Jesus said it was made for man’s benefit!  The Sabbath validated man’s need for rest. 

Jesus’ claim to be the “Lord even of the Sabbath” is backed up by many of his actions (healings) on the Sabbath. 

APPLICATION: Rest is a key principle in our physical health.  We ignore it to our detriment.  Rest brings revitalization and restoration.  It renews our energy to refocus on the tasks before us. 

Rest is also a key principle in our spiritual health.  By faith we rest in the Lord’s provision instead of relying on our good works.  (Hebrews 4:10)   We are saved by faith in God’s work, not our own works even though we were created to work. (Ephesians 2:8-10) We are not saved by what we do, but we honor God by what we do. 

PRAYER:   Lord, I rest in you.  Heavenly Father, you designed a special day for rest, obviously, rest is important!  You designed the cycle of night and day to provide for rest.  Holy Spirit, help me honor what was designed for my benefit.  Teach me when and how to rest. Amen

Pastor Leon
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