Sallie Dawkins

The kindness of the Lord leads men to repentance (Romans 2:4); and the blessings of the Lord overtake us (Deuteronomy 28:2). Father God is so good, and He has so much more for us. His invitation for repentance draws us near and offers us an opportunity to lay down our lives to take hold of the abundance He provides.
 

This morning, I was thinking about the wedding in Cana when they ran out of wine. Mary, the mother of Jesus, asked Him to help, and she was so sure He would help that she turned to the servants and said, “Whatever He tells you, do it.” (John 2:5 NASB)
 

When God becomes real, we leave religion and live in relationship.
 

Passover 2024 starts tomorrow evening, and it's a good time to pause and review the Passover story in Exodus 12. If you're thinking, "Wasn't that old testament?"

Yes. But Jesus thought it was important, too, so shouldn't what's important to Jesus be vital to us?


 

In Mark 14:12-16 we read about the first day of Unleavened Bread (when the Passover Lamb is sacrificed):

Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where would you like us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” So he sent two of his disciples ahead into Jerusalem with these instructions: “Make your way into the city and watch for a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of whatever house he enters, ‘The Teacher wants to ask you: “Do you have my room ready where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?” ’And he will show you a large upstairs room ready and with a table set. Make preparations for us there.” So they went into the city and found everything to be exactly like Jesus had prophesied, and they prepared for him the Passover meal. (Mark 14:12-16 TPT)
 

Did you catch that? Another story that reminds us to live in relationship with God and "do whatever He tells you."
 

Jesus sent the disciples into the city to "watch for a man carrying a pitcher of water," then, follow him and ask, "Do you have my room ready where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?"
 

The disciples were obedient, but the man with the water pitcher was also obedient. What a beautiful reminder of the importance of destiny-helpers and God-connections.
 

In our lives, if we hear and heed the voice of God, we can be like the man carrying a pitcher of water, and prepare ourselves for the day of the Lord's visitation. I want to live my life like that, don't you?
 

The ordinance of the Passover is not just an observance for people of Jewish faith. In Exodus 12:42 (NASB) God tells us that Passover "... is a night to be observed for the Lord, for having brought them out of the land of Egypt; this night is for the Lord, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations."
 

Believers in Christ Jesus (Gentiles) have been established in faith and grafted into the True Vine with the children of Israel (Romans 11:11-24). All the blessings of God belong to us, too. Even if we don't participate in a traditional Jewish Seder, we can read Exodus 12 to remind ourselves of the goodness of the Lord and be blessed.
 

In Numbers 6:22-27 (KJV), "the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them."

Amen.