Time to Get Up

Bible Reading: Psalm 118:24-29; 122:1

“Roman! I told you to get up twenty minutes ago. Now hurry!” Roman’s mom said from the doorway of his room. “We’ll be leaving for church soon!”

Roman 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.

“Roman, are you hurrying?” Mom called from the hallway a few minutes later.

“Yep, I’m hurrying,” Roman answered, and he quickly got dressed, but then he flopped down on the bed again. The next time Mom checked on him, he was fast asleep.

“You’re going to have to get to bed earlier,” Mom said when she woke him again. “Now get up and get ready, Roman.”

The following day was Roman’s birthday, and as soon as he heard his parents get up, he jumped out of bed too. He didn’t mind that it was early and cold. He threw his clothes on as fast as he could and then ran downstairs.

“Well,” Mom said. “I didn’t expect to see you up this early!”

“Today’s a special day, Mom!” said Roman, eyeing the big box on the table.

“Yesterday was a special day too,” said Mom.

“It was?” Roman furrowed his brows in confusion. “It wasn’t your birthday or Dad’s.”

Mom laughed. “No, but Sundays are special. God sets one day a week apart for us to rest from our work and meet with other believers at church. It’s a gift that’s meant to help us remember we can always rest in the peace and love of Jesus because He saved us and is always with us. But just like any gift, you need to open it.”

Dad nodded. “It’s not a gift that comes in a box. You can only get it by opening your heart to what God wants to teach you. Maybe you’ll learn a lesson at church about someone in the Bible with a problem similar to one you have, or receive a word of encouragement from a teacher or pastor, or remember that God loves you as you rest and spend time with your family.”

Roman smiled as Dad handed him his present. “I guess I’ll have lots more gifts to look forward to after this one, huh?”

-Linda Weddle

How About You?

Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and starting your day? Every day is a gift from God, but each week He gives us a special day when we can take a break from school and work to meet with Him with other believers. This special day—which is on Sunday for most Christians—is a gift God wants you to enjoy every week. Open it by getting up and being ready to see what good things God has in store for you!

Today’s Key Verse:
Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Sunday is a special day