Enjoying Shabbat and Kosher Laws

I felt like I wanted to let everyone know, the development of my wanting to live by God's law and in particular Shabbat (Sabbath) and Kosher (dietary food laws) What an amazingly enjoyable and profoundly satisfying change.

There is a scripture in Genesis 2 that says: "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." I get amazing enjoyment sharing this because it's brought me such freedom!

Firstly, I want to share the story of how it became that Shabbat and Kosher are so enjoyable. While working today my attention turned to needing to (somehow) get a key from my church, so that I can open the doors to church for my presentation tomorrow. I also needed to collect security forms as well. But I had no way to get to Christchurch by 3 oclock, which is when the church closes. I had enjoyed (!) a morning of futility and fruitlessness. God had his way in everything by making the sum total of all my work negative. Yes, negative. By the end of the experience I did not know how to use the program (i thought I knew how to) loosing all my work in the process. But I knew that God was in it because I realized that the main motivation for this time to share on Israel is to spend time with family and friends - relationships.

That took about 2 hours, when I had finished I noticed the time and invited everyone to have morning tea in the dining hall. I stayed in afterwards, not really knowing what to do. I was filled with anxiety and stress, and over the afternoon - how would I get back to Christchurch? Right, call my church. This was the first thing I heard while in the office, the second was, my parents. However I did not ring my church but phoned my parents instead, no one was home!

While I was in the dining hall sophia asked me what was up. I shared how the morning had gone - and how I want to spend time with family and friends - and how I was anxious about getting the key and getting someone to staff the sound desk. Which was needed. Well, have I even phoned the church yet? I go into the office and finally ring my church, anxiety. I say "key" they say "Steve!" then ask me a question "sound desk" I let them know that I tried to find someone on sunday, but only one would, and only if I couldn't find someone to do it. But at this present moment I am very frenzied over what work I can do. I do not want to work at this night tomorrow - not now. not while I'm having shabbat. They asked me "what will you do if Jarryd cannot do the sounddesk?" I said "I will share on Israel"

laugh! In fact, God knew that I was wanting to have shabbat, and I couldn't have done this. That's the point. I am so excited for starting shabbat. I found out that it starts three minutes before sun down, and ends when 3 stars are out in the night sky on saturday night. It just so happens that I'm doing it the same day as Jewish tradition. I am becoming more Jewish everyday.

So why Kosher? Because traditionally Shabbat meals are "sumptuous meals" - the best of the best. And Kosher is the food laws that God gave to us.

After preparing the world for our enjoyment and saying "it is good" Shabbat is the first day - when God enjoys fellowship with us - for He has made the whole world and now we are with Him, and he calls the day holy.

What did Jesus do on שבת? (Shabbat) we will find out when He says "I can do nothing of myself, but only what I see my Father doing" He saw His Father working, so He works. This means so much, He perfectly keeps Sabbath because He rests from His works. In fact, He does nothing. I want to do nothing. I want to be at rest. Then when He says "Therefore the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath" - His obedience is good, and motivates us to rest. And to entrust ourselves to Him, into His rest. He is Lord of the Sabbath - so he has abundance of rest. He is Lord.

A spinoff of the whole discovery, is that I have realized, God is creative, and that creativity is what He wants to impart, by giving me a day of rest, He's giving me permission to be creative. So if there is a banner over this day, it's God's creativity! My intellectual mind goes on a voyage of discovery when thinking about what I can and cannot do. What God wants is my freedom. His freedom is coming from satisfying shabbat laws far better than anyone else, in his obedience to the Father, he is far more excellent than these!

If only everyone knew so much more, that we cannot do anything, and we would love Him more. Because we can't do anything! Only God does anything! That trust manifests only when we say "You are Sovereign!"

God has a picture in his mind of the way He wants you to be, and that image is Christ. Then surely he delights in me, because He never stops thinking about me!God Illumine my eyes to see everything the way you see, and let me know what you see in me. I want to love you more. My rest is in your love