Today’s WORD (Text) Exodus 20: 1
1/ Then God spoke all these words:
2/ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery/ 3/ you shall have no other gods before me.
4/ You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5/ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6/ but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7/ You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
8/ Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. 9/ Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10/ But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son, or your daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns, 11/ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
Today’s Witness
Appropriately, there is an aura of reverence and seriousness about The Ten Commandments. However reflecting on the language used in the first five commandments above, I am drawn to the beauty of those words that “God spoke.” Yes, the beauty of God’s words. Have you noticed the narrative? The Divine one introduces himself as the God who freed the people from bondage in Egypt. Let that sink in: In God’s self-introduction, God prioritized delivering the Hebrews from slavery as his signature feature. Staying with the focus on God’s self, God desires to remain primary in the minds and hearts of the people in adoration, worship, and love. God allows no space for competitor worship or adoration and insists on God’s own exceptionalism while commanding reverence for God’s holy name. Then, in an interesting twist God commands the people to rest in honor of the Creator God who rested on the seventh day. Remember the Sabbath and refrain from any work for it is a blessed day.
Today’s Invitation
As you reflect on the five commandments included in the excerpt above, name one of them that draws you inward during today’s reflection? What is its impact on your service or witness to others, and on your worship?
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, we praise you for the many ways in which you have intervened in our lives. We worship you for your awesome greatness and affirm that there is no god greater than the Almighty God. We lift your name above all others. Grant us the wisdom to honor the Sabbath in our own lives, and to discover the grace and growth that comes with keeping Sabbath on a weekly basis. Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
- Where will I follow Christ today?
- To whom shall I demonstrate Jesus’ love and justice today?
- How can I play my part in practicing the presence of Christ, right here, right now?
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash
Today’s WORD (Text) Exodus 20: 1
1/ Then God spoke all these words:
2/ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery/ 3/ you shall have no other gods before me.
4/ You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5/ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6/ but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7/ You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
8/ Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. 9/ Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10/ But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son, or your daughter, your male or female servant, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns, 11/ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
Today’s Witness
Appropriately, there is an aura of reverence and seriousness about The Ten Commandments. However reflecting on the language used in the first five commandments above, I am drawn to the beauty of those words that “God spoke.” Yes, the beauty of God’s words. Have you noticed the narrative? The Divine one introduces himself as the God who freed the people from bondage in Egypt. Let that sink in: In God’s self-introduction, God prioritized delivering the Hebrews from slavery as his signature feature. Staying with the focus on God’s self, God desires to remain primary in the minds and hearts of the people in adoration, worship, and love. God allows no space for competitor worship or adoration and insists on God’s own exceptionalism while commanding reverence for God’s holy name. Then, in an interesting twist God commands the people to rest in honor of the Creator God who rested on the seventh day. Remember the Sabbath and refrain from any work for it is a blessed day.
Today’s Invitation
As you reflect on the five commandments included in the excerpt above, name one of them that draws you inward during today’s reflection? What is its impact on your service or witness to others, and on your worship?
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, we praise you for the many ways in which you have intervened in our lives. We worship you for your awesome greatness and affirm that there is no god greater than the Almighty God. We lift your name above all others. Grant us the wisdom to honor the Sabbath in our own lives, and to discover the grace and growth that comes with keeping Sabbath on a weekly basis. Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash