Lent - Pt 7

Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. (Exodus 12:1-13 ESV).

While we have recently looked at the Passover, today’s devotional takes us back to that singular event in the hope that we can be encouraged from another perspective. Remember the account of the Passover with which Israel begins its exit out of Egypt and slavery is in many ways the central story of the Old Testament. It is meant to speak profoundly to God’s people. On the one hand, it is a reminder that unless God intervenes and covers us, we are in the same condition as everyone else: part of a rebel creation that stands under God’s judgment and condemnation. That is always part of our identity as human beings and without it we cannot walk in humility either before God or others. On the other hand, it is a reminder that the primary thing God wants from us is trust. He wants us to trust that he is merciful and that he cares for us. He wants us to trust that he desires to save and not condemn us. That is why he became incarnate in the person of Jesus. And he wants our lives to issue in the acts of obedience that manifest our trust in him – whether that is putting blood on our doorposts and eating the Passover meal as was the case for the Israelites, or remembering Jesus’ death which saved us when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and then living lives of forgiveness and generosity we should be encouraged by this aspect of the grace of God. We are not asked to complete anything in order to receive the grace of God. We do not have a prescribed path that must be completed, nor do we have any good works that must be done. We have no prerequisite to receive the gift of God except the opening of our hearts to take it into our spirit. Through the centuries since Jesus died and was resurrected, many things have been added to this simple message. Some have thought God’s grace was deposited to the church to be doled out as a reward for good behavior; others have sought to vest it in the sacred works of various sacraments or ordinances. None of that is true. We are redeemed completely and forever by the single work of Christ. He truly is that “door.” Eternal life is in him and he gives himself to us everyday!