Embracing the Old Testament

I LOVE the Old Testament. I always have. I spend a lot of my quiet time reading from the Old Testament especially 1 & 2 Kings, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. But, today I want to talk about one of the stories told in the OT - Passover. Being raised a church girl, I have always been aware of the Jewish customs that Jesus loved and celebrated while He walked on Earth. I've never thought that I needed to embrace those customs, because, I'm not Jewish. To be truthfully honest, I didn't really think I could. I guess I felt as if I would be insulting their beliefs. That all changed when someone showed me a specific scripture.

Deut 16 :16 -"Each year every man....must celebrate these three festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread (what we call Passover)....They must appear before the Lord your God....and they must bring a gift to the Lord."


Ok. I know some of you are thinking, what on Earth is she going on about! Well, in my mind the Old Testament was not done away with when Jesus came, died and rose again. He fulfilled the prophesies of the Old Testament and became the final sacrifice needed for redemption! But none of that means that we shouldn't seek God's favor, by honoring the times He has said His people should come before Him. I am not a Jew, but I do consider myself to be one of God's chosen people. The same love given to the Israelites is now given to me, a Gentile.
This love for God is what has brought me to try and grasp this Passover differently.


Yesterday, I prepared a meal especially for Passover. It wasn't exactly the way it should have been, but I tried to honor the Lord in all the preparations. I used all unleavened bread. I was amazed at all the preparations needed! I told Dh that I understand why traditional Jewish people cook the day before! Nevertheless, we had a good meal and talked to the kids about why we were eating this special meal. It was good. I enjoyed listening, and interjecting, as Dh shared with the kids. Even Dh's parents came and ate with us.

This holy week is different for me. I feel like I'm looking through different eyes - Jesus' eyes. He ate a passover meal for His last supper, he died a criminals death to present Himself as the perfect sacrifice for you and me. But the story doesn't end on Friday.... Sunday came and Jesus rose from the grave!!! We serve a risen Savior! So this year I'm not saying Happy Easter, I'm saying Happy Resurrection Day! By His stripes I am healed and He holds the keys to death and hell, so I'm no longer sentenced to eternity without Him! That us something to be excited about this week!


I did promise RevK that I wouldn't get all nuts about this and start celebrating Christmas in Sept! I will leave you guys with this from Deut. 7 :9 -"Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands."