God Created the Sabbath for You
By Rick Warren
“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest” (Exodus 34:21 NIV).
The Bible is filled with instructions about rest and recreation. In fact, it’s so important that God put it in the Ten Commandments—right up there with “Don’t commit adultery” and “Don’t murder.” He says that every seventh day, you have to take a day off. That’s how important a Sabbath is in your life.
Jesus said in Mark 2:27, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (NIV). In other words, God created this idea of you taking a day off every seven days for rest, recreation, worship, and restoration. It’s his idea, and it’s for your own benefit so you don’t burn out.
Yet in our modern society, people aren’t doing that. Even on their day off, they’re working. And even those who attend a church service go home afterward and go right back to work, trying to get all the stuff done that they didn’t get accomplished during their workweek. That’s not a Sabbath!
This is what it means to have a Sabbath: “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest” (Exodus 34:21 NIV).
Even in your busiest season, there is no excuse not to rest. You may be a tax accountant, but you still have to take a day off in April. You may work in retail, but you still have to take a day off during the Christmas season. Even a farmer must take a day off in harvest or planting season.
What are you supposed to do on your Sabbath?
- Rest your body. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to take a nap.
- Refocus your spirit. That means you worship.
- Recharge your emotions. Do something that restores and re-energizes you, like a hobby or a sport.
It doesn’t really matter which day is your Sabbath. It does matter that you are obedient. You may not rest when your spouse tells you to or even when your boss tells you to take a break. But you must rest because God commands it—and so you can give him your best.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Transformed Study Kit
Experience a real transformation from the inside out!
Is there a positive change you want to see in your life in 2019? If so, we want to send you a study kit Pastor Rick Warren has put together called Transformed to help make it happen!
Pastor Rick teaches seven biblically based lessons in Transformed that will help you experience a real transformation from the inside out this year, as you learn from the Bible how to . . .
• Walk more closely with God
• Experience less stress in your life
• Reconcile a ruined relationship
• Handle your money better
• Become more confident at work
The Transformed study kit includes a 7-session DVD and a leather-bound workbook. And it’s our gift to thank you for your financial support of Daily Hope, so please request it when you give below.
Thank you for your generosity to help more people learn, love, and live God’s Word!
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
