Let's look first at what the Bible plainly says, for the obvious and indisputable messages from our Creator Himself. Then we will look at the ones that are more subjective.

EXODUS 20:8-10; "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work: but the seventh is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates".

EXODUS 31:15; "Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death."

JEREMIAH 17:21-22; "Thus says the LORD: Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath, as I commanded your fathers".

The principle here is really simple. DO NOT DO ANY WORK, either at your regular income earning job if you are employed, or typical work chores at home such as laundry, ironing, cleaning, yard work, home maintenance, cooking etc. This would include people working for you as your employees, or people you hire to work around your home. The Bible says we should not work at all!

EXODUS 16:22-23; "And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread. This is that which God has said, Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath to God: bake that which you will bake today, and boil that you will boil; and that which remains over lay up for you to be kept until the morning."

EXODUS 16:27-30;"See, For God has given you the Sabbath, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; every man of you abide in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day."

The principle here is to spend the time in restful activities, not slaving over the hot stove cooking when you should be resting. It's best not to cook full regular meals. Major food preparation including baking, boiling, roasting, frying, etc. should be done on Friday so that only reheating, if even that, would need to be done. When food is prepared on Friday it is "to be kept until the morning" for eating on the Sabbath. Friday is the preparation day.

"Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath." (Mark 15:42)

Cook and prepare ALL the food you will need for Saturday on Friday. God says this is your preparation day for the Sabbath. With careful planning you can easily do this, especially if you plan cold meals like cereal, fruit, or yogurt for breakfast, sandwiches, soup, or microwaved reheated pizza for lunch, and salads of all types including lettuce based salads, chili, reheated stew, or cold pasta salad, for dinner. Microwave reheating of chili, soup or any previously prepared meal would not violate the principle of not "Baking", or "boiling" on theh Sabbath.

"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure,." (Isaiah 58:13)

The principle here is to not to seek our own pleasure. It isn't about us and what we want! We should really be focused on spiritual matters and a relationship with our creator and what He wants.

"For men will be lovers of themselves...... Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:2-4)

This shows that the pleasures of this life are competing with God for our affection. Instead the Bible say this to us.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).

A lot of what is "pleasure" is subjective. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in our decisions about what may be just something we enjoy that would enhance this time of rest verses what is overt pleasure that physically or mentally distracts us from the intent of this time of rest.

So what can Christians do? Here is a short list of activities that would be keeping with the spirit of what the Bible says. I'm sure you can think of many, many more.

1. Read the Bible alone, or with other people.
2. Play quietly with your children for as long as they want to play. Make the Sabbath a time of joy with them.
3. Eat a meal with friends in your home, even if it' just for a beverage and a chat.
4. Gather with other believers for fellowship.
5. Read an edifying book.
6. Phone a friend.
7. Pray.
8. Write a letter.
9. Visit someone sick at home or in a hospital.
10. Watch nature or other general programs on TV.
11. Watch the news to stay informed about what is happening in the world. (God told us to Watch and pray always. Luke 21:36)
12. Visit a free zoo, museum or planetarium
13. Take a short walk in the park.
14. Enjoy God's creation. Watch ducks on a pond, dip your feet in a cool creek, go outside and count the stars, purposefully watch the sunrise and sunset, pick some wild flowers, stop and listen to the birds sing, lie on your back and watch the clouds, or go barefoot in the grass.
15. Just kick back, relax, and really enjoy the time without your usual work!
16. Listen to some music, or sing hymns with your family.

This is a time for restful activities that compliment a close relationship with Jesus. Appreciating creation in some easy, leisurely way is an inspiring activity quite appropriate for a Christian observe this time of rest. Our time is not to be spent in working, buying, selling, homework, etc. You can get a good idea from what the Bible says in Nehemiah.

NEHEMIAH 13:15-17; "In those days I saw some treading wine presses on the Sabbath in Judah, and bringing in sheaves, and lading donkeys; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food. There dwelt men of Tyre also in there, who brought fish, and all manner of goods, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?"

NEHEMIAH 10:31; "And if the people of the land brought any merchandise or food on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath."

EXODUS 16:27-30; "See, For God has given you the Sabbath, therefore every man of you abide in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day."

The principle here is to NOT leave our homes for the purpose of eating out at restaurants, shopping, or buying anything in any stores. Any shopping for all manner of goods, including on-line, violates the spirit of this holy time. We should really avoid buying food and drink anywhere if at all possible, especially food prepared and sold by merchants, (restaurants). Even though restaurant employees are working for others, at some point, everyone from the cook to the server is working specifically for YOU, in effect they become, "your manservant".. "your maidservant" preparing and serving YOUR food. What you say is what they do. An "ox in a ditch" emergency situation, (Luke 14:5), is a rare exception for eating out when away from home for an emergency and have no other option.

So, in conclusion it is obvious from what the Bible says that we should not be working, buying, selling or allowing anyone to prepare food for us outside of our home on this special day. These are practical applications of the principles for all modern Christians who want to really be in alignment with God's "WILL" and do what He desires. Give Him the benefit of the doubt, (not yourself), if you are not sure about any activity that may be a violation of any rest principle.