“So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation” (Genesis 2:3 ESV).
Nearly every measurement of time was set in motion by God from the beginning. Our clocks and calendars are only manmade tools to mark the “signs, seasons, days, and years” (Gen. 1:14), which God ordained from the start. The 24-hour day and the 365-day year are set by the sun. The months are marked by the moon and the seasons by the tilt of the Earth on its axis as it orbits the sun.
But God established the seven-day-week by revelation. The week was given to us by His Word. For His Word teaches that God worked six days to create the heavens and earth and on the seventh day He rested. So, He “blessed” the seventh day and declared it holy, which means set apart for special use, namely, rest.
So, with this in mind, let us begin this new year by following not only God’s rhythm of creation, but also His rhythm of revelation. Working and resting by faith in the One who made us in His image and for Himself. Our Lord Jesus leads us in this saying, “Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19). Our Lord Jesus is our revelation of rest, for He is our Sabbath Rest.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for this rhythm of rest that You have laid out for us. Help us to work out of Your rest, depending on Your Spirit to energize us and to lead us to do the work You have ordained for us. And help us to rest in Jesus. For in Him, we can do all things. In His name we pray, amen.