THE PASSOVER
Today’s Reading: Exodus 12
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
Children of Israel on a school field trip to En Gedi enjoy the waterfall pools. King David hid from Saul in a nearby cave.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: Exodus 12:14
So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.
Be sure to tell the next generations that Christ is our Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). Choose that time with the children carefully. Repeat the story in a variety of ways over and over. Ask God for creativity in the way you do it (Deut. 11:19). Christ was without defect (Ex. 12:5). The lamb was consumed by fire (verses 6 – 9). Christ took the “fire” in suffering. Not a bone was to be broken (Ex. 12:46, Ps. 22:17, Jn. 19:36). The blood of the sacrifice was applied (Ex. 12:22-23, Col. 1:20, 1 Jn. 1:8-9). Keeping this “ordinance” (an order) was absolutely essential (Ex. 12:24, Heb. 9:22). Please do your best over the next hours to look up these references. Make this not just a devotional but a Bible study.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I believe You were sacrificed as my Passover Lamb. I believe that Your blood was shed for me. I apply, by faith, Your blood to the doorposts of my household for salvation and protection. I can only say “thanks” by giving my life to You and by leaving the bondage of sin in obedience to Your orders. I have a brand new life because of Your precious blood. It’s all through You, Christ Jesus, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
After our children were tucked into bed, Norma-Jean and I would kiss them and say, “Lord Jesus, cover them with Your precious blood. Keep them safe.” Norma-Jean would sing, “All hail King Jesus, all hail Emmanuel, King of kings, Lord of lords, bright Morning Star…” What a confidence! What a comfort! I’m an old softie and I still do this when I’m with our now 53, 54, 56, & 57 year-old children. Of course I don’t tuck them in, but I pray with them as often as I can. It is my conviction that having fathered children, the greatest tragedy would be for them to be lost for all eternity. One of my children, when a teenager, strayed away from God one evening, coming home later than our rules allowed. I went to my knees and said, “Lord, if I die on this spot, I’m not stopping my cries to You until this child repents.” At about 2 a.m. I felt an arm around my neck and heard sobbing, and the words, “Daddy, I won’t do these things ever again. I’m sorry. I’ve asked God to forgive me and I’m asking you to forgive me too.” We wept together.
Yours for our children, our children’s children, and beyond,
David
Our four children singing on the set of the Crossroads weekly TV program around 1972, before the daily “100 Huntley Street” program began in 1977. In the back are Ellen (left) and Elaine (right), and in the front are Reynold (left) and Ron (right).
Such a beautiful family to be so proud of. Proof that following God’s rules and regulations pays off big time when we teach them to our children.
Found such good words from Drake Holtry of the Denison Forum:
Be someone else’s good news
Be encouraged. God is just as active today as he was in the Scriptures you read. The Holy Spirit is alive and moving among the nations and your local community.
You don’t need to go on a mission to live missionally. Instead, show Jesus to your local barista, crossing guard, or neighbor. It’s easy to love your neighbor on a mission trip halfway around the world. The real test is loving your literal neighbor, the one who parks in front of your house, plays music too loudly, or has roosters that crow before even God is awake. (I may or may not have a neighbor with roosters.)
So don’t be discouraged about what you see on TV or read in the headlines. The war has already been won. We are on the side of victory. All we have to do is love.
So how can you show Jesus’ love to the men and women God has placed in your life? Whom can you send an encouraging message to right now? Stop and ask God whose day you can start on an encouraging note, then send them a text.
God isn’t asking everyone to move halfway around the world for him, but he is asking you to live missionally where you are.
Amen.Very good advice,Lynda.Thanks
Words of wisdom! thanks Lynda!
Amen Lynda, always enjoy David’s family about his family as giving us an example of how we should love our own families. Also please pray for me today as I have an important decision to make concerning the upkeep of my home. Thanks friends and God bless you.
Praying for you Ger.Mine is ongoing too (Renovations and need new windows.)God bless
agreeing with you in prayer, Ger!
Amen Lynda & Geo I will keep you in my prayers
Lianne Hogg
The destroyer has passed by
For the blood is by my door,
And the captor hears the bitter cry
For the child that will breathe no more.
Just some musings…..
That’s a moving story by David…Get his Book:This Far By Faith”,you will be very glad you did.My first action as a new deacon was to stand up to a controller who is trying to step in,without being asked.(“Voluntered” as he puts it.)He has been a close friend so it is difficult.He had to have someone stand up to him and he forced my hand.His wife is always walking on egg shells.Nuff said.Please pray for me.Thanks and God bless
Wondering if Psalm 37 would help you out William. Maybe let it kick in when difficult situations try to pop up.
Praying for rectification for all bloggers puzzles. God’s blessings.
Have that book of David’s and another good read is Martin Luther by Eric Mataxsis (hope I didn’t crucify his name).
Thank you,Lynda.Yes,that did help.God bless
Prayed David’s prayer!
God is so faithfully, there is no detail that is not important to Him.
He is Faithful in every thing and in very way! Praise His Holy Name!!
Our children are a precious gift from the Lord! Thank You Jesus! Lord, I pray, draw them into the Kingdom of Light our of the kingdom of darkness. Amen!
My Only Son
My only son and gift from above,
You don not know how much I care,
But the greatest gift of unending love,
Is a gift you won’t let me share.
I came to know Him late in my life,
For no teaching at home was mine,
And He has used me in such hellish strife
To share the words of One devine.
I pray each night your eyes will open,
For the gift of our salvation
Is the grace we all have our great hope in,
That we not meet death’s privation.
You have a little boy of your own,
What gift can you bestow on him?
It’s the greatest gift man has ever known,
Lest you,on him,his eyes bedim.
There is a darkness beyond the night
That many have fallen deep within
But the One risen can make all things right,
When He can forgive every sin.
GW (Bill) Marshall/11Aug,2018