September 30 - Exodus 20:8-11
September 30 - Exodus 20:8-11
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Exodus 20:8-11
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
This commandment is so often misunderstood, I believe. The leaders of that day took it to an extreme where it was unlawful to help people who were in desperate need of help. I believe God gave them this commandment not only to remind them to take one day a week to worship and praise Him, but they had come out of Egypt where they were working 7 days a week and God wanted them to take time to rest. He wanted them to be able to rest and to worship Him, two things they hadn’t been able to do freely in many years. Jesus later tells His followers that the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath, and I believe that is what He was trying to get them to see. It was for their benefit, not punishment as it had become for many.
How do you treat the sabbath? Before Jesus’ resurrection, the sabbath was on Saturday, but once Jesus came out of that tomb on that first Easter Sunday morning, Christians have celebrated Sunday as the Lord’s Day. Unfortunately, due to our need to have everything at our fingertips constantly, many have to work on Sunday, but we can still honor and worship God no matter where we are.
Do you take a day to rest and worship God even if it isn’t on Sunday?
Why do you think God gave them double manna on Friday, so they didn’t have to gather it on Saturday, the sabbath?
What makes a day holy to you? How do you like to spend days with God?
Take time with your family this week to talk to them about taking one day a week to focus on God and family. It is so rewarding to take a step back and enjoy our Creator.
Heavenly Father, there is nothing more rewarding than taking time with You and resting in You. None of us get enough “rest” these days. We live in such a fast-paced world. You knew that is how it would be and You saw what the Israelites had endured for those many years in slavery. You are always ready to give us Your best. Why do I balk at enjoying Your best? Why do I think I know better than You how I should spend my time? Help me see the truth of what You have for me and how it is always best. Help me trust You and not require “proof” that You are good to me. I know in my head and in my heart that You are the only One that is truly trustworthy all the time. You are the only one I can always count on. People try their best, but they have delays, and traffic and their humanness, but You are truly the One I can trust in and count on. I believe, help me with my unbelief.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen!
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