“Because the Lord is always at work, we are able to rest.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 9, 2026
So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God. John 5:16-18, NLT
Of the many things that remind me of the distance between God and me, John 5 is a powerful reminder of my limited energy, attention, and availability compared to the endless compassion and care of our Lord. “My Father is always working, and so am I.” What words of comfort these should be, reminding us of the Lord’s active presence in our world and in our lives!
If we know someone who is always working, typically, this is a problem. It’s a sign of a deep imbalance in their lives, a workaholic who pours everything into their job without ever stopping to care for their family or friends. If left unchecked, this is the kind of lifestyle that can lead to deep regret over a life blind to what truly matters.
Our Lord’s acknowledgment that the Father is always working is not a sign of sickness or a lack of priority but is instead the ever-present care that upholds our world and sets us free. Because the Lord is always at work, we are able to rest. Do not rush past this truth! It is the basis of a life freed from perpetual worry and unending anxiety.
When we shut our eyes at night, we entrust our bodies and souls into the hands of the one who holds us perfectly in his arms, never once forgetting us or failing to see. When we choose to prioritize our families over a promotion, we do so knowing that he loves us and cares for us beyond our wildest dreams. And when we cease from striving, we acknowledge through our actions that our lives are ultimately not in our control.
Enter today into the Lord’s sabbath rest, trusting in the presence and care of a God who does not slumber and does not sleep (Psalm 121:4).
Prayer
Father, set us free today to truly rest in you, knowing that you uphold us by your perfect and ever-present care, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
How does the truth that the Lord is “always at work” set you free to enter into his sabbath rest?
Related Reading
Psalm 4:8; Psalm 127:1-2; Matthew 6:25-26
Worship Resource
Matt Maher: Rest
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