Today’s readings: Jeremiah 30:1-9, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 6:1-11

Once again, Jesus encounters controversy on the Sabbath. The attitude of the Pharisees only confirms their shortsightedness when it comes to actually keeping the Sabbath for what it is: time set aside to worship God, giving him thanks, blessing, and honor.

How often are we like the Pharisees? How much does our own shortsightedness get in the way of our keeping the Sabbath holy? Today, Christians keeping the Sabbath is somewhat of a distant memory. Worship competes with worldly expectations; stores run door buster sales, civic events fill the calendar, and Christian families are lured away from the Church by recreational activity and other forms of entertainment. Our lessons today remind us that God requires something different.

God’s desire is that his people take time to rest in his Word, strengthen their faith, and enjoy fellowship among God’s people. Only when we recognize Jesus as Lord of all, will we finally realize how good it is to keep the Lord’s Day holy. Sunday is the day to gather with the faithful, hear God’s Word, and receive the goodness of his grace as we share the feast of victory. The world and all of its business can wait.

Prayer: Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word, that we might keep the Sabbath holy. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by David Nuottila, Pastor of Union Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC.

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