How can Christians today honor the principles found in Ezekiel 45:21? Scripture Spotlight “On the fourteenth day of the first month, you are to celebrate the Passover, a feast lasting seven days, during which you shall eat unleavened bread.” (Ezekiel 45:21) Principle 1: Remember the Redeeming Lamb • Israel’s Passover pointed to “Christ our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Christians honor this by regularly centering hearts on the cross—especially through the Lord’s Supper: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19). • Schedule deliberate times—weekly worship, family devotions, personal reflection—to recount His shed blood and delivered life. Principle 2: Purge the Leaven • Unleavened bread symbolized removing corruption (Exodus 12:15). • Paul applies it: “Get rid of the old leaven… so that you may be a new unleavened batch.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). Practical steps: – Examine attitudes, habits, entertainment, language. – Confess sin immediately (1 John 1:9). – Replace with fresh “sincerity and truth.” Principle 3: Honor the Calendar of Redemption • God fixed a date for Passover. He values ordered remembrance. Ways to reflect that order today: – Mark the church year’s key salvation events—Passion Week, Resurrection Sunday, Pentecost. – Keep a family faith calendar: anniversaries of baptisms, answered prayers, mission trips. – Use set seasons (Advent, Lent) for focused Scripture reading and fasting. Principle 4: Celebrate in Community • Passover was never a private meal: households gathered and strangers were welcomed (Exodus 12:4, 48). • Christians live this out by: – Faithful attendance at corporate worship (Hebrews 10:24-25). – Practicing hospitality—invite neighbors, new believers, lonely singles to meals that testify of Jesus. – Serving Lord’s Supper together, not in isolation. Principle 5: Teach the Next Generation • Children asked, “What does this service mean?” (Exodus 12:26). God expected parents to answer. Modern application: – Tell salvation stories at the dinner table. – Use object lessons—unleavened bread, grape juice, a doorpost marked red—to explain Christ’s work. – Encourage questions; supply biblical answers (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Putting It into Practice • Set aside regular space to meditate on Christ’s Passover fulfillment. • Sweep out spiritual leaven—commit this week to identify one sinful pattern and replace it with righteousness. • Plan a communal meal near Resurrection Sunday, reading Exodus 12 and the Gospel passion narrative aloud. • Start a family redemption timeline; add milestones monthly. • Invite a younger believer to join you in these rhythms, modeling for them how to honor Ezekiel 45:21’s enduring principles. |
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