Meditation

02/17/2020

“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one foe each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, have taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.” (Exodus12:3–4)

In preparation for hastily leaving Egyptian captivity, families wee commanded to prepare a Passover meal which would give sustenance for the journey and also be an occasion of worshiping God through the blood sacrifice of the lamb.

The Passover was established as a family worship ritual celebrated in the home reminding the Jewish people of their deliverance by God from bondage (12:43-49). Family worship should be the unifying center of the family. Christians no longer celebrate the Passover ritual, but we must find ways to teach children our basic beliefs in the family setting.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, the ritual of Passover was intended for all Jews but today many Christians also celebrate the Passover meal as a means to relate to the bondage we have all experienced by living in the world; yet we seek to abide in Your will Abba, through our Lord Jesus Christ. All this we pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“A world of love makes a world of difference.”

KNOWING GOD:

“There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 12:7)

God established a place of worship for the new nation. Normally, the people celebrated their faith through home worship, but on designated holy days they were to go as households to the Temple and worship joyfully together. Worship was a family experience. Shared worship is considered so important to the development of faith that believers ware warned against neglecting it. As in biblical times, families today need to know the Word of God by hearing it taught and by worshiping God through family worship in the church.

I AM:

“But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—-a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, ‘May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of he one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.’ Then they would go home. And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of he lord. And the boy Samuel continue to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.”: (1^st Samuel2:18–21-26)

Elkanah and his two wives Hannah and Peninnah were devout in their worship of the Lord even though Peninnah made fun of Hannah because she had borne no children. Hannah’s devotion is clearly set forth in her fervent prayer life which received God’s answer in the birth of Samuel. The depth of her devotion and that of her husband is demonstrated in their willingness to give Samuel to Eli, the priest, to grow up serving God in the Temple. She was fulfilling literally the consecration of the firstborn son commanded in Exodus 13:1-2 in remembrance of the deliverance of the people from Egyptian bondage rather than redeeming the son. Abram showed such committed religious devotion in his willingness to sacrifice his only Son. The supreme example is the sacrifice Of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, on the cross. Christian families today express the depth of their religious devotion in giving sons and daughters to the ministry of missions and witness throughout the world as well as in encouraging Christian growth while at home.

Second Thought of the Day:

“Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.” (Luke2:41-42)

Joseph and Mary illustrate the devotion to God essential for family life. Each yer they traveled to Jerusalem to observe the Passover, a worshiping experience required of all faithful Jews

Whereas the birth of Jesus was marked by supernatural events, His childhood growth was natural for any human being. He increased His capacities in all areas of His life. His spiritual growth amazed the religious authorities. Still He remained an obedient child. Beloved, families need periodic religious observances to cement their growing relationship with God.