Beyond the Weekend

February 1 | Sabbath

February 1, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:11

Read: Exodus 20:8-11
Listen:
Exodus 20

TODAY’S MESSAGE

We are focusing on a different spiritual practice each month this year. Each habit helps deepen our relationship with God and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, grows us to be more like Jesus. February is the practice of Sabbath. God gives the Israelites the Ten Commandments after bringing them out of slavery in Egypt, and Sabbath is his fourth command. Each command trains them to be God’s people and show the world who God is. The Sabbath commandment reminds them God is a God of rest. After generations of slavery, the Israelites only know hard labor. God tells them even he rested after all the work of creation, not because he needed to, but as a gift and model for people.

We often can feel enslaved to our work today. Work texts, emails or calls come in at all times of the day. In the midst of this frenzied world, God calls us to rest. God desires we honor and reflect him to the world by trusting his plan for us with a scheduled day of rest. In Jesus’s time, the religious leaders had turned Sabbath into a list of rules, making it more work! Jesus reminds us that Sabbath was made for us (Mark 2:27). It is a gift from God.

Practicing Sabbath will take just that—practice. Begin by setting aside one day, or even part of a day, to cease our everyday routine to enjoy God and the life he has given us. The key is finding a different rhythm that restores and refreshes what the week and world take from us.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Watch or re-watch Pastor Jeff Manion’s Sermon on Sabbath from 12/17/22. Commit to practicing Sabbath this month. Ask God to help you keep it simple and enjoy the freedom it can bring.


2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.

February is SABBATH. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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