9/7- Labor Day

(Rockwell- Rosie the Riveter)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

12 "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14 but 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. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

Calvin: God, to prick our sloth, has given us the assurance that the trouble we
have borne to the glory of his name will not be in vain. Let us always remember that this promise, like all others, would not bear fruit for us if the free covenant of his mercy had not gone before, upon which the whole assurance of our salvation depended. Now, relying on this, we ought to have firm confidence that, however unworthy our services, a reward will not be lacking from God’s generosity.

Thought: A day off to think about work? You've got to be kidding! That is such an alien concept to us- it seems like we should be working to celebrate work. But this day off thing sounds a bit like the concept of the Sabbath- take time off so that you will not be slaves to your work as you were in Egypt! Calvin very much valued labor and said it was for the glory of God. But he also said we shouldn't be slaves to our work. In our day, there are two extremes- sloth (laziness- not working on purpose) and workaholism (often fueled in part by greed or debt). Our recession is caused in part by an over-extension of our debt and in the end we lost jobs. In balance is found right thinking.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to find the balance between laziness and being workaholics. Help us to honor you with whatever you call us to do this day- even rest.