In our faith and service, rest is as important as work.

在信仰和事奉当中，休息和做工一样重要。

Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work. Exodus 23:12

六日你要作工，第七日要安息。-出埃及记23章12节

One Sunday, I stood by the gurgling stream that wends its way through our North London community, delighting in the beauty it brings to our otherwise built-up area. I felt myself relax as I watched the cascading water and listened to the birds chirping. I paused to give the Lord thanks for how He helps us to find rest for our souls.

某个星期天，我站在一条流经我们社区的潺潺小溪旁，观赏小溪为我们这个高楼耸立的地区所增添的自然之美。看着溪水淙淙、耳听鸟儿婉转啁啾，令我轻松愉悦、心旷神怡。我不禁驻足片刻，向上帝献上感谢，因为祂使我们的心灵得享安息。

The Lord instituted a time of Sabbath—a time for rest and renewal—for His people in the ancient Near East because He wanted them to thrive. As we see in the book of Exodus, He tells them to sow their fields for six years and rest on the seventh. So too with working six days and resting on the seventh. His way of life set apart the Israelites from other nations, for not only they but also the foreigners and slaves in their households were allowed to follow this pattern.

上帝设立安息日，让人得以休息、更新，就是希望属祂的以色列百姓，能在现今中东地区开枝散叶、生生不息。在出埃及记中，上帝告诉他们，经过六年的耕种，到第七年就要休息。同样地，在工作六天之后，第七天就要休息。上帝设立的这种生活方式，让以色列人有别于其他的国家民族，而且不只他们自己，就连他们家中的外邦人和奴隶，也都采行这种生活模式。

We can approach our day of rest with expectancy and creativity, welcoming the chance to worship and do something that feeds our souls, which will vary according to our preferences. Some will like to play games; some to garden; some to share a meal with friends and family; some to take an afternoon nap.

在休息日，我们可以带着期待和创意好好地休假，把握机会敬拜上帝，也能按照各人不同的兴趣喜好，做一些有益身心灵的事。比如休闲活动、从事园艺、与家人朋友一起用餐，或是好好地睡个午觉。

How can we rediscover the beauty and richness of setting apart a day to rest, if that’s missing from our lives?

愿我们能好好享受休息的好处，让休息日变得美好又有意义。

Lord God, in You we find our rest. 

Thank You that You’ve created us both to work 

and to rest. Please help us to find the

 right rhythm for our lives.

天父上帝，唯有在祢里面我们才能得享安息。
感谢祢创造我们，能够做工也得以休息。
求祢帮助我们，找到生活中应有的步调。

Exodus 23:10-13New International Version (NIV)

Sabbath Laws

10 “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.

13 “Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.

出埃及 23:10-13Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

安息年

10 “六年你要耕种田地，收藏土产， 11 只是第七年要叫地歇息，不耕不种，使你民中的穷人有吃的，他们所剩下的，野兽可以吃。你的葡萄园和橄榄园也要照样办理。12 六日你要做工，第七日要安息，使牛、驴可以歇息，并使你婢女的儿子和寄居的都可以舒畅。 13 凡我对你们说的话，你们要谨守。别神的名，你不可提，也不可从你口中传说。

整理：于姊妹