Month: June 2024

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:23-28

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

Daily Devotion – June 5, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 2:23-28


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As the Son of God, Jesus has existed from eternity. When the world was created, he spoke, and everything came into existence. When he stopped speaking on the seventh day of creation, it was the first day of rest. Since the timing of the Sabbath was based on that first day of rest, the Son of God is Lord of the Sabbath.

As the Son of Man, Jesus knew all the Sabbath laws from a faithful study of Scripture and had perfect knowledge of how to follow those laws. When religious leaders challenged Jesus and his followers because they did not follow the Sabbath laws the same way the religious leaders did, Jesus gave an example from the Scripture of the right way to observe the Sabbath. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Jesus explained that a time of rest and attention to God’s Word is healthy for human beings. The Sabbath was made for them! Human beings were not created so that they can observe the Sabbath. The Sabbath was created so that human beings would benefit.

We can be certain that the commands and prohibitions of God’s law are good for us, even when we don’t understand them. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves, and because he is our Savior, we trust whatever he tells us.

Prayer:
God, your Word is my delight. When I am lost in darkness, enlighten my heart and mind to trust you and serve you in holiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Colossians 2:13-17

Jesus Fulfilled the Sabbath

Daily Devotion – June 4, 2024

Devotion based on Colossians 2:13-17


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When Jesus walked the earth, there were a lot of laws that people were supposed to follow when it came to rest on the Sabbath day. Did cooking count as work, not rest? How about walking somewhere or helping someone in need? Various authorities took it upon themselves to interpret the rules and then enforce them. If there were fines associated with each infraction, a person could rack up a lot of debt.

Jesus kept all the Sabbath laws perfectly. Even when local powers and authorities did not interpret those laws correctly, Jesus kept them the way God intended. He did not accumulate a single bit of debt, literal or figurative.

Then, in one striking action, Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty that every human being had accumulated for breaking laws of any kind, including the Sabbath laws. It was as if all the legal charges against people were written on a sheet of paper that was nailed to the cross along with the hands and feet of Jesus. Authorities became powerless to accuse people since the debt was paid.

That’s why we don’t follow Sabbath laws today. They were a shadow of the rest we find now in the reality of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
God our Savior, I lift up my heart to you and ask you to grant me rest through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you.”
Deuteronomy 5:12

Remember the Sabbath Day

Daily Devotion – June 3, 2024

Devotion based on Deuteronomy 5:12


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“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” is one of the Ten Commandments. The word “Sabbath” means “cease, desist, rest.”

Faithful people before Jesus kept the commandment by working for six days every week but resting on the seventh day of the week. Every member of the family, every servant, and every working animal, like oxen and donkeys, were all supposed to rest on that seventh day, just like God did when he finished creating the world. The idea was to spend the day remembering that God rescued the people from being enslaved in Egypt. To prompt that remembering people were supposed to listen to the Word of God.

The famous religious reformer Martin Luther explained that this commandment means, “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and his Word but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it.” This means that we gather with other Christians to hear the Word of God proclaimed in its truth and purity. And because that truth tells us that we have spiritual rest through Jesus, we do so, not because we have to, but because we want to.

Rest is important for our bodies and our souls. God has granted us rest in Jesus. This commandment shows us that God wants us to thank him for his goodness by regarding his Word as holy and gladly hearing and learning it.

Prayer:
God of grace, you have given me rest in Jesus. Fill me with your Spirit, guide me by your Word, and help me as I seek to follow you and your commandments. Amen.

Then [Jesus] said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:27,28

Rest for Our Souls

Daily Devotion – June 2, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 2:27,28


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The word “Sabbath” means “rest.” When God created the world, he “worked” for six days, and on the seventh day he rested, he stopped his work of creation. Therefore, in the Old Testament church, God commanded his people to work for six days, and on the seventh day (the Sabbath Day) they were to rest. On that Sabbath Day, they rested in the Word of God. Yes, even back then, it was a temptation to work nonstop and get so busy with earthly things that they’d neglect God’s Word.

In Jesus’ day, the local teachers of the law had made the day of rest into a day of rule-following, not a day of rest in God’s Word. They had multiplied the requirements and rules, adding all kinds of details as to what defined “work” and what defined “rest.” If you kept the man-made rules, you were to be proud of yourself. If you failed to keep the rules, you lived in guilt.

Here’s the problem: Seeking rest through following rules is never restful!

Jesus set them straight. He said that he was the one in charge of the Sabbath, not human beings making their own rules. And Jesus came to give us rest for our souls. We could never keep God’s law so that we could find rest. But Jesus kept it in our place. Then he died in our place for our failures. And he promises that because he has done it all, we can confidently look forward to heavenly rest through faith in him.

That’s why we take time to rest in God’s Word—not to follow a rule, but to honor our Savior, rest-giver, and Lord of all. Jesus invites us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). We thank him for the rest we have now and look forward to the eternal rest that he has provided.

Prayer:
Dear Lord of the Sabbath, thank you for the rest you have provided for my conscience. Give me peace as I look forward to the eternal rest that lies in the future, all thanks to you. Amen.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
Romans 8:15

A Slave No More

Daily Devotion – June 1, 2024

Devotion based on Romans 8:15


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The story goes something like this: A former slave enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The longer he lived and fought as a soldier, the farther behind he left his life as a slave. One day his unit was passing by some prisoners of war. To his surprise he came face-to-face with his former master. The soldier’s greeting was powerful but brief. He said, “Well, Master, it looks like the bottom rung is on top this time.” His point was clear. The soldier was no longer a slave. The prisoner was no longer a master. The old relationship was gone forever.

As you read or listen to this devotion, some of you are under some extraordinary circumstances. Perhaps you just learned you have a tumor. Perhaps you’ve just been laid off. Perhaps you just found out your spouse has been unfaithful. Perhaps your son or daughter has just gotten into some serious trouble. Perhaps your best friend has just died.

In any of these circumstances—or a million others like them—fear can come calling, trying to regain its old position and reclaim its place as master.

But those days are long gone. Through faith in the message of sins forgiven in Christ—the Holy Spirit has adopted you into God’s family. Never again will you be alone. Never again will you be helpless. Never again will you be without the strength and guidance of the Almighty God.

And if you ever begin to forget that promise, take a good, long look at the cross of Jesus. Then take a good, long look at his empty tomb.

Will fears in your life come and go? Of course. But will fear be your master? Christian, you are a slave no more.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when the hard times come, fill me with courage through your gospel. And remind me that my days of slavery to fear are gone forever. Amen.