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Tuesday, June 30, 2015
And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.—Mark 6:31
The Sabbath is not a legalistic day that we as believers have to observe, but it is a great idea to take some time off and focus on the Lord. For many of us, that day is Sunday. I love to see Sunday set apart as the Lord’s Day, just like the early church did.
We should make our first priority to worship with God’s people. Maybe we will do some fun stuff afterward. But we shouldn’t let anything stop us from getting together and worshiping and putting the Lord first. I think God will honor that in our lives if we do.
Even Jesus took time off. In Mark we read,
Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. (6:30–32)
I love that. “Lord, this happened. That happened.”
“Have you guys had lunch yet?”
“We are too busy to eat.”
“Come on. Let’s get some lunch. Relax a little bit. You need to chill. You need to recharge. Come aside with Me.”
If we don’t come aside, then we will come apart. During the next 24 hours, your heart will beat 103,000 times, and your blood will travel 168 million miles. You will breathe 23,000 times and inhale 480 cubic feet of air. You will move 750 muscles and exercise 7 million brain cells. No wonder we all feel tired. We’re constantly going.
The principle of the Sabbath is taking time off, recharging, and focusing on the things of God.
Radio Program: “Stand Your Ground — I”
TV Program: “Iran, Israel, and ISIS Part 2”
Bible Reading: Amos 7-9, Psalm 104, Titus 2
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Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514.