EXODUS 20:8-10

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

TO PONDER 

The Sabbath is a holiday. Well, that’s the original meaning of it. The word holiday comes from an old English word which means ‘holy day’. And God asks us to put aside that day and not work on it. Australians are happy to put aside two days, and preferably not work on them – although many do, which enables us to have some down time – while we are served brunch or morning tea.  

Many of our Jewish colleague’s rest on the Sabbath, which for them begins at sundown the day before. So, from sundown on the Friday, until sundown on the Saturday, various activities are banned, such as baking and cooking, travelling, starting a fire, gathering wood, buying and selling, and some will even refrain from using any electrical devices as well. How would you cope with not looking at any screen for 24 hours? 

So, the Sabbath, which Christians now celebrate on the Sunday, because it is linked to the resurrection of Christ, is our Holy day. It is a day we can stop and celebrate and be reminded of what God has done for us. Regular Sunday worship then, is an important part of your weekly calendar.  

PRAYER 

Lord of the Sabbath, thank you for all you have given us. Thank you especially for the space in our busy lives to stop and worship you. Remind us to put you first in all the busy spaces in our busy lives. Amen

Today's daily devotion written by Mark Simpfendorfer, LifeWay Epping.