Power Point 04/14/05

April 14, 2005

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work; … For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

--Exodus 20:8-11

So many people today seemingly never have enough time for the things that are really important. That’s why so many are burned out and worn down. How many of you would say you can leave work on Friday tired and go back to work on Monday morning still tired?

We live in a pressure cooker society and because God knew the demands upon our lives, He gave us a commandment that would prevent that kind of burnout—not to burden us, but to bless us. This Scripture is so important that God Himself gave us the perfect example of following the commandment. He created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.

Even now, He knows that there are going to be some weeks or months that are more hectic than others. And He’s provided a rest stop in the middle of each week so you can catch your breath and regain your strength to begin anew. That’s why the Scripture says the Sabbath is a holy day—the word “holy” means different, separate, and set apart unto God.

We physically need this day of rest, but we also need it to set apart a day to completely worship God. There’s a balance and rhythm to the life of work, play, and rest. We must constantly be maintaining that balance between the physical, spiritual, and emotional sides of life. Life is more than labor, and if you don’t take time to worship God and acknowledge the day of rest He’s set aside, life will become increasingly secular. Today, make a commitment to stop the race, take a breather, praise the Lord, and enjoy a time of renewal.