AUGUST 29, Exodus 20:8

“I told you to get up long ago, Matt. Now hurry!” Matt’s mother spoke from the doorway of his room. “We’ll be leaving for church soon!” Matt sleepily opened his eyes. It was so hard to get up in the morning! He put one foot on the floor, then the other. It was cold. He wrapped his blanket around him.

“Matt, are you hurrying?” Mom called from the hallway a few minutes later. “Yep! I’m hurrying,” Matt answered, and he quickly put on his shirt and pants, but then he flopped down on the bed again. In fact, the next time Mom checked on him, he was fast asleep.

“You’re going to have to get to bed earlier,” said Mom with a sigh when she woke him again. “Now get up and get ready, Matt.” Next Saturday was Matt’s birthday, and as soon as he heard his dad and mom get up, he jumped out of bed, too. He didn’t mind that it was early. He threw his clothes on as fast as he could and then ran downstairs.

“Hm-m-m,” Mom said. “How strange!” “What’s strange?” asked Dad. “It’s strange how easy it was for our sleepyhead to get out of bed this morning,” said Mom, “when yesterday it was so hard.” “Today’s a special day, Mom!” said Matt, eyeing the big box standing in the centre of the table.

“Sundays are special days, too,” replied Mom. “Sundays are days we set apart to learn more about God’s Word and to join with other Christians to worship Him.” “Well, I… ah…” Matt didn’t know what to say, so he changed the subject. “Can I open my birthday present now?” he asked. “What is it?”

“You’ll see in a minute,” said Dad. “It’s something we hope you’ll enjoy-but your mother is right. Going to church is a great privilege. It’s something we should enjoy, too. Instead, we take it for granted too often. We forget that Sunday is a special day and should be very important to us!” He handed Matt the box. “Think about that tomorrow, for it is Sunday, okay?”

Thought: Do you have trouble getting up for church?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, sometimes I sleep so late on Saturdays that I find it so difficult to wake up on time to go to church. Forgive me, please. May I remember that Sunday is a special day, and that I should get to bed early on Saturday so I’ll be ready to serve and worship You on Sunday. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.