“Have you ever wondered why God commanded us to keep the Sabbath, to take one day of every week to stop our work and rest? This is a holy gift to you. Let’s see what God has to say about taking a day off.
“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you…that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you’…for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:13-17)
Wow! God needed to be refreshed?!? What does that mean? The Hebrew word for refreshed literally means to breathe or to be breathed upon; to be refreshed (as if by a current of air). So, in other words, God needed to take a breather. And if so, then how much more so do we need to take a breather, or to be refreshed by the very breath of God?
God’s breath is powerful. What does He do when He breathes on us? Job 33:4 says, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” His breath gives strength and health to our physical bodies.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) God breathes His Word to teach us and meet our spiritual needs.
“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'” (John 20:21-22)
God breathes His Holy Spirit into us to fill our soul with peace and to empower us for the work He has given us.
Do you regularly take time to be refreshed by the Lord? Do you spend time in His Word? Do you feel the power of His Holy Spirit compelling you to keep up your good work? I think keeping Sabbath is about more than taking off one day a week. It is about finding a moment every day to sit in God’s presence and to be refreshed by His breath.
Don’t give up on your time with the Lord. Don’t let your Bible readings fall by the wayside. You NEED this time of devotion every day to revive you. And of course, don’t forget to take a breather once a week too for your physical and mental well-being.
As we begin a new year my motto is going to be “Renew in ’22!” Let’s all breathe God’s “life and health to your bones” every day this year. (See Proverbs 4:20-22)
Have a blessed day!