Today I meditate on the QT passage in the car. I understood the command to ‘keep the Sabbath’ not merely as attending church, but as finding rest amidst a relentlessly busy life, learning God’s word, and living a life of prayer that puts it into practice. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a year of forced restraint, with much time spent resting at home. Office workers, students, and homemakers alike found themselves with more free time and had to manage their own schedules during this period of rest. Today’s news reported survey results showing a massive gap in learning ability between top-performing students and those in the middle to lower tiers. It made me realize anew how the way we use the same amount of time can lead to such vastly different outcomes.

I too experienced trial and error this year while starting new endeavors and building time management habits, and I had a few mishaps. Looking back, I realized that rushing too quickly is dangerous, but equally, I could easily slip into laziness and complacency without even noticing. Keeping the Sabbath isn’t just about sleeping in on Sunday morning, waking up, and comfortably attending an online service at home. I believe the true meaning of the Sabbath lies in taking time to reflect on the week past and prepare for the week ahead, in creating cherished memories through conversations with family, and above all, in learning God’s Word through worship.

‘But if you listen carefully to my words and do not bring your loads through these gates on the Sabbath, and do no work on the Sabbath but keep the Sabbath holy, then kings who succeed David’s throne and their officials will enter through these gates riding in chariots and on horses, along with the people of Judah and Jerusalem. And Jerusalem will enjoy lasting prosperity.’ (Jeremiah 17:24-25)”