One thing I've never really noticed before was right in Exodus 12:1-2, and was put this way in my ESV Study Bible....
The events of the plagues and exodus are so significant for Israel's identity as an emerging nation that the month they come out of Egypt will become for them the first month of the year.
Their entire calendar revolves around this event - it was truly momentous!
The sacrifice of blood, a slain lamb, was required in order for the angel of death to pass over a home. The same is true today - the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and His blood covers us in order that we may be spared eternal separation from Him. And it is only fitting that Jesus died at the exact same time that the Passover lambs were slain.
I found out Thessalonians passage extremely convicting and totally applicable to our lives today. In this short passage I found myself asking....
Am I willing to suffer and be treated shamefully for the sake of the gospel? (v2)
Do I have boldness to declare the gospel of God - in peace never mind in the midst of conflict? (v2)
Do I ever have wrong motives or methods? (v3)
Do I speak to please man or to please God? (v4)
Do I ever employ flattery to get what I want? (v5)
Am I ever greedy? (v5)
Do I ever seek glory for myself? (v6)
Am I gentle and selfless? (v7)
Am I not only affectionate but willing to give of myself for others? (v8)
Do I work tirelessly so as not to be a burden on anyone? (v9)
Do I proclaim the gospel, even while working? (v9)
Am I holy, righteous, and blameless in conduct? (v10)
Do I challenge and encourage fellow believers? (v12)
Do I hold fellow believers accountable in love? (v12)
Do I continually thank God? (v13)
Do I accept the entire Word of God as truth, not just the parts I want to be true? (v13)
Do I allow His Word to work in my heart and in my life? (v13)
Do I purposefully find those who can mentor me, or whom I can imitate as I strive to live a godly life? (v14)
Do I serve God no matter what obstacles are put in my path? (v15-16)
Do I care about people who I haven't seen in awhile? (v17)
In what, or in whom do I put my hope and joy? (v19)
That is a lot of food for thought!
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Exodus 14-15; 1 Thessalonians 3
2 comments:
Food for thought indeed!
This stuck out for me in Exodus:
8 You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
How important it is to tell our kids and (others!) what the Lord has done or is doing for us. Sometimes we don't think about that. Our prayers can be so private that we don't think about sharing about them when God answers them.
Great questions to ponder.
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