I’m always amazed and humbled by God and how rich in mercy He is. His grace to each of us is utterly astounding!
This week in the life of Christians and Jews is one of deep reflection and celebration.
I am both…and I am thankful.
I have fond memories of celebrating the Passover Seder as a child. I didn’t quite catch the “symbolism” of it then, in fact I most remember being scared when they set the table for Elijah and opened the door to let him in.
While I have not done the traditional observance of Pesach in many years, there is one element that struck a deep cord within me this year and I AM doing it.
“Symbolically”
It has to do with the removal of all Chametz. (or leavened bread) Chametz includes anything made from the five major grains. The purpose behind it is this: It commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the “puffiness” (arrogance, pride, ego) from our souls.
The last part of that description is what gripped me.
Although I haven’t physically removed breads from my home, I felt this year it was more symbolic of my soul. Removing the “chametz” WITHIN if you will.
What are the things that “puff” me up, that cause me to stay stuck in my sinful arrogant ways. Where have I put MY needs, My desires, Me, My and I first.
My prayer echoes John the Baptist, “Lord let me decrease so You may increase!”
One of the traditional ways to get rid of “chametz” is to BURN it.
Lets read Luke 3:15-17 from The Message:
The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder,
“Could this John be the Messiah?”
But John intervened: “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”
Although this verse is something we SHOULD be living daily, it seems very appropriate in this season to appropriate this promise. (To take possession of or make use of exclusively for oneself)
I believe God is doing a new thing in our lives.
A fresh wind is blowing and for all who will allow Him to dig deep within and burn out the excess “chametz” will be ignited with fresh fire.
Are you ready to make that clean sweep…Put out with the trash all that is to be burned?
This Easter let us take some extra time to seek God out and thank Him. Let us remember the great sacrifice Jesus made for us so that we could be set free from the law of sin and death. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with fresh oil and stoke the fire within us.
And then Lord, let us share it with someone who has yet to discover Your amazing Love and saving power. For if we know you as we say we do, then it’s really the ONLY reason we are on this planet!
Shalom!
