21 September | Teens
«The Lord then answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?…So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” » Luke 13: 15,16
One day, while Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath, something different happened. He saw a woman who had been ill for many years and decided to help her, even though it was the Sabbath. Some people thought that Jesus shouldn't do this on that day; after all, the Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest and not a day to do chores, like healing someone.
But Jesus explained something very important: the Sabbath is a day to do good and help others, not just a day to do nothing. It's not just a day of rest, but also a day to think about others. Imagine it like this: for six days of the week, we do many things that we enjoy and that are important to us. But on Saturday, we have the chance to do something different: dedicate our time to God and the people around us.
This day is like a gift that God gives us to show love and care for others. It's when a doctor, a nurse, a reporter does something for people, without getting anything in return. They don't work for themselves. During the week, the service is focused on my wellbeing. On Saturday, the service is focused on people's wellbeing. During the week the emphasis is on receiving. On Saturday, the emphasis is on giving.
Take Action
To live Jesus' teaching on the Sabbath, think of something good you can do next Saturday to help someone or to spend special time with your family or friends. Remember, Saturday is a day to recharge our hearts and our strength for the coming week.