Sabbath Sanctuary: Celebrating the Word

Today is a beautiful fall afternoon; I am witnessing the divine change of the season all around me. The last of the apples have fallen to the ground; save one or two stragglers hanging on to the last glimmer of warmth. I have chosen to let those on the ground return to the ground from which they came, to enrich the soil through the winter.

The plumbago exchanges green for a beautiful red that is only found on the brush of the Master of the universe—the Grand Artist.

Signs of life are still to be found; the grass proudly displays its lush green with pine cones for ornaments.

One wildflower shares my rebellious heart to hang on to dear life...

I love fall, it is my favorite season. The reds, oranges, and yellows are breath-taking here in Colorado; I catch myself wanting to walk the museum of God’s creation endlessly. Creation displays God’s glory and I want to bask in that glory for as long as I can. 

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit {John 12:24 NASB}.

Though I love fall, I know that it leads to winter; the cold, harsh, freezing, dark. A time when everything must die to make room for new life in the spring. Spiritually, winter is not an enjoyable season either, but God prunes us to grow more fruit, and though it is painful, new life will spring up in abundance. I purpose not to worry about the coming winter and enjoy the beauty of fall.

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together {Col.1:16-17 NASB}.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it {John 1: 1-5 NASB}.

At sundown on October 17, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah began. It is a celebration of the Torah; the Word of God, and concludes the Feast of Tabernacles. For believers in Yeshua, it is a celebration of Him, the Word made flesh; He came and tabernacled with us. Simchat Torah  shares this evening-morning day with the Sabbath, a time to rest from all the distractions and worries of this world and turn our gaze upon the Lord.

This evening I lit two Sabbath candles to usher in the rest of God to my world, along with this blessing: 

Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to be a light to the nations and who gave to us Jesus our Messiah the Light of the world.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12 NASB

Jesus is the Light of the World. When life seems cold, harsh, and dark, Jesus is our Light and He will give us rest for our souls. 

When we focus on the cares of the world---our trials, the cross becomes blurry...

Rest your soul this weekend; create a Sabbath sanctuary in your world and allow Jesus to minister to your tired, weary soul. Let His light refresh you as you celebrate Him—the very Word of God, who tabernacles with you.