13 February 2020
Devotion
Celebrating God's Faithfulness
In the Old Testament, God’s people would remember the Passover with a feast every year. This was a feast of celebration. This reminds me of the Chinese families at our Church that come together for the ‘reunion dinner’ on the eve of Chinese New Year. However, the passover is not just a gathering but a significant celebration of the faithful character of God. You see, the Israelites would celebrate many things - God’s faithfulness in remembering His promises to Israel, His might in delivering them from the world’s most powerful nation, His mercy because He spared His judgement over them. Jewish families would come together and give thanks together, in unity over the Passover meal.
Those of us living in the New Covenant also have a reason to celebrate. In gathering together with His disciples to eat the Passover meal, Jesus breaks the bread and tells them “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19, NLT) Just as the Israelites ate the Passover meal to remember what God had done for them in Egypt, we are to gather and remember what Christ has done for us on the cross! We celebrate God’s faithfulness to us in restoring us to Him. We celebrate God’s might in delivering us from something much greater even than the nation of Egypt; humanity’s sin. He has mercy on us even though we deserved judgement. We have so much reason to celebrate!
Prayer
God, we take this time to celebrate everything you have done for us through Christ. We use this time of prayer and feasting to remember all that you have done for us and to celebrate your faithfulness and mercy that you have given us abundantly. Lord, let this time of celebration be a blessing to me, my family and my church. I also pray for those that do not yet know you, we stand in the gap for them and believe for their salvation.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Exodus 12:14 (NLT)
This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord.
Luke 22:19 (NLT)
He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
