Friends: The world may think God fills in reality’s gaps, but there are no gaps, only Jesus. Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #1013

April 14, 2026

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Reality of the Sabbath

By Bob Walters

“… the reality, however, is found in Christ” – Colossians 2:17

For nearly 20 years I’ve been reading Ray Stedman’s daily online devotional, “The Power of His Presence.”

Ray lived from 1917 to1992. He was born in Montana, served as longtime pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California, authored several books, and achieved national prominence. I’ve never studied Stedman himself, nor know a lot about his ministry that has extended well past his earthly life. I’ve just been a daily online reader.

His blog / devotional seems to run in seven-year cycles, typically an Old Testament book one month, then a New Testament book the next. It is basic, smart, protestant, evangelical Bible verse-by-verse exposition.  His work is nicely arranged and available free at RayStedman.org. For the blog, they’ve never sent a bill.

We all have our favorite, preferred, trusted devotionals and I’m not here to compare, contrast, or elevate Stedman.  I’ve just always included him in my daily reading, meditation, and prayer time. Most of you – i.e., regular Common Christianity readers – likely know I became a baptized Christian in 2001 because I mention it all the time. It goes without saying that I never met Ray, and he likely never met “the Internet.”

More than once Stedman’s devotionals have triggered ideas for this weekly column, especially when it syncs up with something I’ve been thinking about apart from his blog. This is one of those times, about reality and Jesus, Genesis and the Sabbath.

Why do we become Christians? 1 Peter 3:15 says we should “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” My answer for that never seems to line up with most preaching I hear.  That’s not a complaint, it’s just that most pulpits and altar calls revolve around coming to Jesus to solve one’s problems, to be forgiven of our sins, relieve our grief, atone for our transgressions, rest from our labors, or some other general application of turning the negatives of our lives into positives. A good outcome is divine joy, peace, and purpose.

I have seen all of that personally, for me, in my own faith walk and have seen it in many others.  Truth is, when I first walked into church expectation-less in 2001 at age 47, it wasn’t my problems or my sins or any perceived need for joy or direction that the Holy Spirit grabbed onto.  It was my curiosity, and, looking back, a sense that reality dwelled – really dwelled – in Jesus Christ.  It was long before I read Colossians 2:17.

But I see it now. Reality, I mean. In Christ. That’s where reality is: not in science, philosophy, politics, or culture, nor in my worldly appetites, experiences, or psyche. The assurance and comfort knowing that reality exists, truth exists, God exists, and that this life matters and has purpose is the reason for the hope and faith that I have. That’s my intellectual “jam.”

This month – April 2026 – Stedman’s blog presents early Genesis. April 10 was Genesis 2:2, where God rests and admires his work; what He later commanded and called the Sabbath (Link: God Rests). It was an early shadow that ended at the Cross

Stedman talks about the Old Testament Sabbath being a shadow, and Christ being the true Sabbath. This is what my Bible mentor George Bebawi emphasized, the “shadows” of the old covenant of the Law vs. the reality of the new covenant in Christ. The shadows of the Law become the reality of salvation in Christ.

Jesus never calls for feasts or festivals or even a day of worship because He, the real Sabbath – the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8) – is with us always.

The world endeavors to define reality on its own terms. Reality, really, is defined in Jesus.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) reminds all that science was created by God.