Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.

For in six days the Lord made heaven and 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

Someone once said that keeping the Sabbath is the only commandment we break and brag about breaking it. It's so true, isn't it? One way I see this played out is with our young people as they apply for college. These days, on a college application, there seems to be pages and pages of empty space that a student must fill up with all the activities they participate in, what awards they have won, a list of hobbies, and all the things that keep them busy. Colleges want "well-rounded" students. And to prove one is "well-rounded," a student must basically show a college admissions committee he or she has absolutely zero free-time ~ has barely any time to sleep ~ is never at home to eat a sit-down meal with their family ~ is doing all these activities while at the same time keeping up a high grade-point average and scoring a 1500 on the SAT!

Part of me says, "There is nothing wrong with diversifying your experiences to become a more 'well-rounded' person." However, I wonder, at what cost is it really worth? Is the point of our lives to be constantly busy? If we are always busy and our attention is on one thing after the next, when are we supposed to and how can we possibly notice God's work in the world? Don't we miss out on some of the things that God has told us to honor and value?

I believe an important aspect of the Sabbath is to simply sit back, rest and watch what God is doing in the world and in our lives. If we can't take that holy time to watch what God is doing, how can we ever do what we're supposed to do when we're "on the clock"?

Rest is important. The Sabbath is important. Think about this commandment and ask yourself how you keep it holy.

Holy God, help us to rest even when we are not tired, so that we may see what You are doing in the world. Inspire us to keep holy the things in which You hallowed. Encourage us to value the things in life which bring honor and glory to You. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

Jeremy Cain Wilhelmi
Associate Pastor

CCPC READS THROUGH THE PSALMS
Now through November 10
Join fellow congregation members as we read through The Psalms during 2008. To register CLICK HERE and let Joyce know your preferred email address to receive weekly devotionals and study guides.