DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Rested and Refreshed
by Beth Voltmann
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.'"
Exodus 31:13
When reading this passage, do you imagine God as a strict heavenly Father demanding that we lay down our work to honor him - commanding us to live a life of holiness?
If so, pause and read it again, with the realization that God gave the Sabbath as a blessing to his people for their good and his glory. After six days of creation, God modeled a seventh day of rest. The Sabbath was not only intended to be a day of worship, a sign to the watching world that God’s people were treasured, holy, and set apart, but it was designed to restore their spiritual, emotional and physical strength each week.
It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”
Exodus 31:17
As New Covenant people, the Church began to honor Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection, as their Sabbath. Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus reminded his followers that a day of Sabbath was not meant to be legalistic and restrictive, but restorative.
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:27-28
Ponder this:
- Our Lord Jesus, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, was present at the Creation.
He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John1:2-3
- Therefore, we can reason that Jesus rested on the seventh day.
- Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath!
Are you weary? Choose to “remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)
It is not meant to be a burden. Come away from your work, be set apart, honor God. Find rest in the Lord of the Sabbath.
“Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
PRAYER
Father, we often forget to honor you with a day of Sabbath. You are worthy to be praised, and we want to follow your perfect plan. Help us to pause from our labor and worship you. Thank you for blessing us with rest and refreshment in Jesus. Amen.
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