How can Exodus 12:11 inspire us to live with a sense of urgency? Setting the Scene “ ‘And this is how you are to eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.’ ” (Exodus 12:11) Why the Urgency Mattered Then • Belt fastened – readiness to move the moment God spoke • Sandals on feet – protection for a long journey beginning that very night • Staff in hand – dependence on God while taking action • Eat in haste – no lingering in a land of bondage once deliverance arrived How That Urgency Translates to Us • Redeemed people still live like travelers, not settlers (Hebrews 13:14) • Salvation calls for decisive response, not delay (2 Corinthians 6:2) • God’s timetable, not ours, sets the pace (Acts 17:31) New-Testament Echoes of Urgency • “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.” (Luke 12:35) • “Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16) • “It is already the hour to wake up from your slumber.” (Romans 13:11) Practical Ways to Wear the Belt, Sandals, and Staff • Prioritize daily time in Scripture before distractions start • Obey promptings of the Spirit immediately, not “later” • Keep short accounts—confess sin quickly and restore relationships • Invest resources in eternal purposes rather than temporary comforts • Speak the gospel at the first open door rather than waiting for “perfect” conditions Encouraging Reminders While Moving Quickly • God supplies strength for each step (Isaiah 40:31) • Christ’s return gives momentum and motivation (Revelation 22:12) • Every obedient act done in haste today echoes into eternity (1 Corinthians 15:58) Summary Snapshot Exodus 12:11 pictures a people poised to follow God the instant He calls. By fastening our modern belts, lacing up spiritual sandals, and gripping the staff of faith, we live alert, ready, and purposeful—making every moment count until the final, promised deliverance. |
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