Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Deuteronomy 5:12–15
Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. (NRSV)

Reflection
Observe the sabbath day by keeping it holy. This commandment should be a pretty simple one to follow, right? Yet our daily lives become busier and busier in each passing moment. Technology has made us all accessible at all times. As soon as I see a “new email” notification on my iPhone, I immediately check it (and also typically respond to the email), even if it’s not during the work day. I prep for Sunday morning classes on Saturday afternoons. Days off are spent running errands, catching up on household chores, running my daughter to extracurricular activities—pretty much doing everything except observing the sabbath day. I’m sure many of you experience the same thing. Work, school commitments, rehearsals, social gatherings, and chores consume the little down time that we have.

It’s pretty incredible to think about how the sabbath was woven right into creation. God knows that we need time to rest—not only to recharge our batteries, but as a time for us to rest in the peace, love, and security that God provides for us. I always feel recharged spiritually and emotionally after a day spent quietly reading, journaling, and walking in God’s creation. I challenge us all this week to try and set time apart from our busy lives to remember the Sabbath and to rest in God’s love.

Prayer
Grace-filled God, thank you for weaving the sabbath into creation. Help me to take time during the week to rest, recharge, and remember your endless love and grace. Amen.

Written by Briana Belding-Peck, Family Ministry Coordinator

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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