Summer Day
Scripture Reading — Genesis 2:1-3
God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
—Genesis 2:3
Driving in an air-conditioned car on a hot summer day can be fun—that is, if your car’s engine doesn’t overheat! Back when I was a seminary student, my gently used car displayed this unfortunate tendency. At such moments I would turn off my air conditioning and turn on the heater. That was the advice I received from my mechanically inclined friends.
But once, on a very hot day, this technique failed to work. The overheated engine died, and I was stranded on a highway for a few hours. A mechanic who later fixed my car told me that I should have paid closer attention to the temperature gauge, since the weather was so hot.
As any pastor knows, good summer weather can be detrimental to church attendance. A day on the beach or a long walk in the park is great. But are you ever tempted to skip going to church for those activities? It’s good to spend time resting and relaxing, but don’t forget to allow God to renew your weary soul as well.
We have to pay close attention to our spiritual temperature gauge. Just like our body, our soul needs regular maintenance. The Lord himself blessed the seventh day and made it holy. As children of God, we require regular time off to rest and be spiritually recharged in his presence.
Our Father, we need your wisdom to combine both phys-ical and spiritual rest. Help us to always find time for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Sergei Sosedkin
Rev. Sergei Sosedkin is the Russian-language ministry leader for ReFrame Ministries. He is a native of Moscow, Russia. As he oversees the Russian-language ministry, Rev. Sosedkin works from our office in Grand Rapids and in various locations in Russia.
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