TUESDAY, JANUARY 29
Exodus 12:1-28
1 Peter 1:18-21

“… a lamb without blemish
and without spot.”

A FRESH START

The LORD gave the children of Israel a new calendar. The point of exodus from Egypt marked the first month, Nisan. This symbolized a fresh start for the Hebrews. With this fresh start, they left Egypt behind them. They began to observe new holy days and forgot the Egyptian religious days and ways. They began to worship the true God and formed a new culture. This is the same for us today. After salvation, we must have a totally revamped perspective of life and what we pursue. We must have fresh objectives and purpose based upon what God has planned for us. We must leave the lifestyle and idols of the unregenerate life behind once and for all.

The LORD set in place new religious practices for them. He instituted the Passover. A young male unblemished lamb stayed with the family before it was killed. With the personal attachment built up, imagine the pain when this innocent and adorable animal was killed. We also must not view the Lord’s sacrifice ritualistically without personal identification. The unleavened bread signified being without sin. Anyone who was found disobeying this during the seven-day feast of unleavened bread would be cut off (likely meaning: to expect severe judgment). The bitter herb reminded them of the bitter life of slavery. Eating with clothes girded, shoes on, and staff in hand meant readiness to leave Egypt quickly. These principles still remain today. After salvation, we must keep sin out of our lives and be ready and quick to leave worldliness behind. The blood dabbed on the door posts and the bypassing of the destroyer taught them about salvation through the blood of the Lamb of God. All these were to be observed from this fresh start onwards as reminders of the LORD’s deliverance (Exod 12:17). We too must remember all these as we partake of the Lord’s Supper. The children of Israel left for a fresh start after 430 years of bondage. We were once in sin, now we are free. Live as new creation in Christ, the Lamb of God.

THOUGHT: I am saved to put off the old man, and put on the new.
PRAYER: LORD, help me live a fresh new life of holiness daily.