Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-14
Keep the Sabbath day and treat it as holy, exactly as the LORD your God commanded: Six days you may work and do all your tasks, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. Don’t do any work on it—not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your oxen or donkeys or any of your animals, or the immigrant who is living among you—so that your male and female servants can rest just like you.
Thought for the Day: Sabbath rest was not entirely new in the ancient world, but such regular rest was associated mostly with the wealthy and the elite. There were still meals to be prepared and clothing to be washed and chamber pots to be dumped. Such things didn’t wait until the day of rest was over. Though Israel probably did not fully live into this wonderful new vision of respect for all creatures, the challenge was put forth. Can you imagine how troubling and ridiculous it would have sounded to some in the ancient world, but at the same time, how amazing it would have been for those who had carried out the chamber pot every single day for decades. To believe a God cared equally for all of creation, not just humanity, would have shaken the foundation of ancient culture. Might I suggest that it continues to shake the foundation of today’s culture – a foundation based upon greed, injustice, bigotry and fear – a foundation that could find true transformation in a Jesus whose life of love, forgiveness and justice is an amazing bedrock from which to build the true life.
Prayer: I know my life does not always demonstrate the amazing qualities of the Jesus-life, O Lord of All Creation, yet I believe you still believe in me. Through your Spirit, continue to encourage me as I build my life upon Jesus. Only then can I invite others to do the same. Amen.
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