Exodus 12
The Passover. Most Christians understand that the slaughtering of the lambs for Passover points to the Perfect Lamb whose blood covers our sins and allows the wrath of God to pass over us, just as it did the Israelites in Exodus.
But this morning as I read this familiar passage, I wondered if it might also point ahead even further, to the return of the King. To being prepared to depart at the sound of His call. The Israelites ate in haste, sandals on, staff in hand.
Am I living my life in that same kind of expectation? Remembering that the only things we carry with us shall be the acts of obedience and love done in the name of His Son, have I got my bags packed and ready to go when the bridegroom calls? If He called today, would I think, "But wait, I never..." or would I rejoice in knowing that while there might still be much to do, I had completed every task He set before me?
I was challenged by a wonderful keynote speaker last night, Steve Laube, a 34-year veteran in the publishing industry, who said, "Books change lives."
What a humbling and exciting thought. As he spoke about the impact our words may have, I wavered between pride and sheer terror. Oh, Lord, guard me from ever thinking my words offer any value unless they come from you! Let every word which is not from you vanish from my screen, from the mind of the reader, from the very page it is printed upon. And if I ever think too highly of the calling to share your words, may I always recall that you spoke once through a donkey!
The Passover. Most Christians understand that the slaughtering of the lambs for Passover points to the Perfect Lamb whose blood covers our sins and allows the wrath of God to pass over us, just as it did the Israelites in Exodus.
But this morning as I read this familiar passage, I wondered if it might also point ahead even further, to the return of the King. To being prepared to depart at the sound of His call. The Israelites ate in haste, sandals on, staff in hand.
Am I living my life in that same kind of expectation? Remembering that the only things we carry with us shall be the acts of obedience and love done in the name of His Son, have I got my bags packed and ready to go when the bridegroom calls? If He called today, would I think, "But wait, I never..." or would I rejoice in knowing that while there might still be much to do, I had completed every task He set before me?
I was challenged by a wonderful keynote speaker last night, Steve Laube, a 34-year veteran in the publishing industry, who said, "Books change lives."
What a humbling and exciting thought. As he spoke about the impact our words may have, I wavered between pride and sheer terror. Oh, Lord, guard me from ever thinking my words offer any value unless they come from you! Let every word which is not from you vanish from my screen, from the mind of the reader, from the very page it is printed upon. And if I ever think too highly of the calling to share your words, may I always recall that you spoke once through a donkey!