A Passover of Thanksgiving

In a few weeks God's saints around the world will be observing the most important of God's annual feasts, the Passover and Days of Unleavened bread. As we prepare for this most holy occasion let us thank our great God for what he has done for each of us, and to be truly thankful for him turning our lives around for the good. Our spiritual calling out by God from the slavery of sin is a physical type of his calling out of Israel anciently from Egypt (a type of sin) a down trodden people (physical Israel) that he chose to be his own chosen ones as he remembered his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.The Passover was instituted on the night of the 14th of Abib when God killed the first born of the Egyptians and the first born of animals, but spared the Israelites living in Goshen. When they sprinkled blood outside of their doorposts, God passed over them. Their passing through the Red Sea on dry land is a type of water baptism (review I Cor. 10).

Our Election by Grace

Down through the ages up to our day, God has chosen his elect through the righteousness of faith by grace (see Rom. 1:5-6 and Eph. 2). Ephesians chapter one, gives us God's awesome wisdom in planning for each of our individual calling out before we were born (predestination). After we were born, each one of us at a particular time frame; God planted the seed (the word of God) for us to look into and to respond to, bringing forth repentance of sin leading to baptism and receiving of God's holy spirit enabling each of us to bring forth good fruit. (Luke 8 & I Cor.3:6-.9).

Why God Chose You

We have all asked ourselves the question: why did God choose someone lowly like me? The apostle Paul gives the answer in I Cor. 1:26-31 where he states that God has chosen as his own those in the world who are considered low in stature, poor and un-noticed by the rich and powerful of this world. Why? In I Cor. 1:27 Paul says that God has done this to confound the powerful and elite of this world, to put them to shame!

Consider this, God has bestowed upon us his holy spirit to make us more wiser and understanding the purpose of human life. At this time he has blinded the minds of the vast majority of mankind from understanding this knowledge. Notice what Paul brings out about this in I Cor. 2:15-16 "But he that is spiritual judges (examines) all things, yet he himself is judged (discerned) by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

What Our Conduct Should Reflect

As you examine yourself before the Passover, realize that you have been chosen by God for holy use, therefore you are to reflect God's character and mind in everything you do. John reminds us in John 10 that Jesus is the one who opens the door for us to 'follow him.' That he is the good shepherd who know his sheep (his called out ones) and his sheep know him(V.14-15). Each of us is an individual 'temple' being built everyday towards completion, by God's holy spirit in you (I Pet. 2:5).

Conclusion

As we see this troubled world hurdling towards destruction, let each of us resolve this Passover to put intense devotion (by faith) in seeking the coming Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33) first in our lives. Remember: just as ancient Israel had to be protected on the night of the first Passover; the end-time Church will also need to have God's protection in the last days to be passed over and protected from the terrible times of Jacob's trouble. Let this year's Passover be one of heart-felt thanksgiving to our Great God so that he may finish this great work he has begun in you (Phil. 1:6). Before Passover read the following scriptures: Psa. 22, Heb. 12, Phil. 2: 1-13, and John 6. Prepare for Passover!

-George A. Bratcher