As a worship pastor, there are really two seasons:
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Christmas Season
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Easter Season
So, since it is the middle of January and Christmas is now past, Easter has begun in my mind…
I was reading through the Passover account in Exodus 12. This event was a foreshadowing of Jesus as the once-and-for-all sacrificial Lamb who would justify us by his death. But then I realized something while I was reading…
There are two parts to the Passover:
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Completely partaking of the Passover Lamb
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Removal of leaven from your house for seven days
On the first day of Passover, the same day that the Lamb was to be killed (and fully consumed), the Israelites were also supposed to rid their house of leaven/yeast. Once the lamb was fully consumed that night, the people of God were to refrain from eating leaven for seven days. Read the exact instructions here in Exodus 12.
Holy symbolism, Batman!
In case you missed it:
The Lamb = Jesus
The Leaven = Sin
The House = Your Heart
Seven = The number of perfection or completion
Not only are the people of God supposed to trust in the blood of the Lamb for their salvation, but they are then to make every effort to keep sin out of their heart until everything is complete.
I see this “rid your house of leaven” as the act of repentance that so obviously accompanies faith in Jesus. While Jesus bought our forgiveness and justification, he is also working out our sanctification until his plan is fully complete, and we are supposed to work with him to accomplish that end. Paul tells us to “work out our salvation” (Philippians 2) and Peter tells us to “be diligent to confirm our calling” (2 Peter 1) and Hebrews tells us to “strive for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Faith in Jesus alone saves us. One of the main evidences of this faith is a life transformed. That is, the removal of sin from our lives and its replacement with the things of God (Exodus 13). As John says, “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” (1 John 3)
Lord, show me where the leaven is hiding in my house. I know that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (Galatians 5) It is small and hard to see sometimes, but I know that it multiplies like wildfire. I want my faith in the blood of Jesus to be evident by my obedience to remove sin from my life. Use your Holy Spirit to convict me and transform me so “that the instruction of the Lord may be in my mouth.” (Exodus 13) Amen!