Deuteronomy 5:14 The seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.
How do you define yourself? For example, when I say that I am a wife or that I am a mother, I am stating what I am. These are statements of identity. At the same time, we make similar statements when talking about our jobs. People will say, “I am a teacher” or “I am a lawyer.” In other words, we all have multiple identities, roles, and titles that describe the various parts of our lives. We all spend so much time on our jobs, it’s human nature to identify with what we do for a living. Too many people prioritize career or financial status and define themselves in these terms. It is very important that we remind ourselves who we really are, who we are before God, who we are in our families. The Bible tells us that on the Sabbath, everyone is equal. Our “work” identities are set aside. We read, “The seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.”
On Sunday, I turn off my cell phone and put my purse away. which has my wallet, credit cards, car keys, and many more items that are central to what I do during the week. It’s just me, spending time with my family and God. The Sabbath reminds us of our true identity. Think about your various identities. Take some time in prayer to remind yourself who you really are.
