How can we "keep this ordinance" in our daily lives today? Setting the Scene • Israel had just walked out of Egypt under the blood of the Passover lamb. • God immediately gave them the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the consecration of every firstborn. • He tied both commands together with these words: “Therefore you are to keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year” (Exodus 13:10). What the Ordinance Signified Then • Remembered redemption: God rescued an enslaved people (Exodus 13:3). • Removed leaven: yeast symbolized the corruption they left behind (Exodus 13:7). • Reserved the firstborn: every firstborn male—man or beast—belonged to God (Exodus 13:2, 12). • Rehearsed the story: parents retold it to each generation (Exodus 13:8–9). Timeless Principles Behind the Command • Redemption must never be forgotten. • Holiness demands continual cleansing. • The first and best belong to the Lord. • Truth is preserved through deliberate, ongoing testimony. Practical Ways to Keep the Ordinance Today 1. Live in constant remembrance of Christ our Passover – “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast…” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). – Build daily habits that turn the heart back to the cross: morning thanksgiving, Scripture on the desk, Christ-centered playlists while commuting. 2. Sweep out “leaven” every day – End each evening with honest confession (1 John 1:9). – Guard entertainment, conversations, and online habits from the subtle rise of impurity (Psalm 101:3). 3. Give God the “firstborn” of your resources – First hour: start the day in the Word before screens or schedules (Mark 1:35). – First income: set aside the tithe up front, not after expenses (Proverbs 3:9-10). – First talents: volunteer the strongest skills to gospel service before personal hobbies. 4. Celebrate Christ’s deliverance in tangible ways – Share the Lord’s Supper regularly: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). – Mark anniversaries of salvation and baptisms with family worship and testimonies. 5. Keep visible reminders before your eyes – Write a key verse on an index card and slip it into your wallet. – Place a simple piece of unleavened matzah in a glass jar on the kitchen shelf during Passion Week as a talking point. Handing It Down to the Next Generation • Teach the story steadily: “These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children…” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Let children see parents confess sin, prioritize giving, and rejoice in redemption—lessons stick when modeled. • Incorporate family rituals: a yearly Passover-style meal that traces the symbols to Christ; a “first-paycheck” envelope set aside for missions. Encouragement for Daily Faithfulness Whatever season or schedule, the heart of Exodus 13:10 is still reachable: “whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Redemption remembered, leaven removed, firstborn surrendered—kept day after day, year after year—turns ordinary lives into continual testimony of our extraordinary Savior. |
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