Scripture: Exodus 20:8-10
Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy. Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. Do not do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your animals, or the immigrant who is living with you.
Thought for the Day: The Formula One Driver, Jenson Button, said:
“Rest for me is fitness training.”
How many of us view rest as part of our essential fitness training? Or how many of us view rest like we view fitness training, and we never do it? The idea that every human being, in fact, every living creature deserves rest was pretty radical. The animal or person that I purchased was mine, and I should be allowed to push them every single day. Immigrants who might not have the same rights as citizens could also be forced to work every single day. This was common thinking in parts of the ancient world. If they got sick or died because of over work, they could be replaced. God’s sabbath requirement was a way of declaring value and worth upon every living thing. Of course, if we do not value ourselves enough to take rest seriously, then why should we value anyone or anything else? Taking the time for our sabbath rest reinforces our value in the eyes of God, and demanding that others receive sabbath completes God’s belief that all have value.
Prayer: Help me find the time to respect myself with rest, O Lord. Help me live a life that allows others to find time to rest. Amen.
