Devotional Challenge

So I've decided to write a devotional per day, for 7 days!

Number one:

A struggle I have been having recently, is concerning the OT. There are so many precious verses, that people love quoting, but it also seems that straight after the verses might be terrible and just unquotable! Involve God asking terrible things of their people.

So how does that part of scripture relate to us? Specially thinking of Jesus words - Mat 5:17

 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them

A lot of the commands given to Israel, seem to be given with the expectation, that the following generations would be keeping them forever and ever!! Say Exodus 31:16 concerning the Sabbath

Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 

As one living in this busy busy society, where their are always things to do! Assignments to be handed in, money to be earned to pay the bills while I don't have class on the weekend, and can be really easy, for me, to not get any breaks at ALL!! The Sabbath does not seem like it would fit in my lifestyle. Specially it seems like Jesus is a lot more loose on the Sabbath, in the New Testament. So What up??

The day of Sabbath was given to the Israelites before the Ten Commandments. When God promised them manna, on the sixth day they were told to keep twice as much in order that they would not have to work on the Sabbath - Exodus 16:23

23 He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”

We find that straight away, the Israelites disobey! They do not trust in God good gift of the Sabbath, and go out the seventh day to find mana. 

As much as the Sabbath is a command, Moses clearly stresses that his people must realize that it is also a gift! - Exodus 16

29 They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you.

I have realized that my busy lifestyle, is also starting to bear negative consequences, like a few signs of a burn out!! Lack of motivation, finding it hard to get excitted about much. I am in a bad mood more often than usually! I have some pain in my stomach, which I think is psychological!

So I have decided to take this seriously, and try to find more rest! Trusting God with the time he has given me, and also, taking a break too, trusting that God will allow me to do what he has for me, if I trust him. 

How I have already started putting this is practice, is that I had planned on going to sleep at 11 last night, it was already 10 past 11, and realized I had to write my devotional for the day... and decided, how about I put in practice this devotional even before writing it, and Go to sleep, enjoy my God given rest, and let me be better organized tomorrow to do all the things that God will have for me then!!!

May God bless you! And keep you! May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, may his face turn towards you, and give you peace!

Find that time to rest everyday!!