How can we "keep this service" in our modern Christian lives today? Setting the Stage: The Original Command “When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as He promised, you are to keep this service.” (Exodus 12:25) Israel’s Passover was more than a ritual; it was a perpetual reminder of God’s mighty redemption. That same God still calls His people to remember, rejoice, and live out the freedom He has secured. Rooted in Redemption • The blood of the lamb spared the firstborn (Exodus 12:13). • The day was “a memorial… a perpetual statute” (Exodus 12:14). • Christ fulfills the picture: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Because redemption is literal and complete, remembering it is non-negotiable. The Continuity from Passover to the Cross • Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper during Passover: “This is My body given for you… This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:19-20). • Paul links the feasts: “Therefore let us keep the feast… with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8). • Our remembrance now centers on the once-for-all sacrifice: “You were redeemed… with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Ways to “Keep This Service” Today • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper frequently and reverently, letting the symbols preach Christ’s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). • Pursue a life cleansed of “old yeast” by ongoing repentance and obedience. • Set aside annual times (Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday) for focused remembrance and proclamation of the gospel. • Practice hospitality that points to the Lamb—sharing meals and testimonies with believers and seekers alike. • Integrate Scripture reading and singing about redemption into personal and family devotions. • Support missions and evangelism, extending deliverance to those still in bondage. Personal Application: Living the Redeemed Life • Walk in freedom: sin’s chains are broken; refuse to return to Egypt-like habits (Romans 6:11-14). • Cultivate gratitude: daily thank God for the Lamb who died and rose. • Display holiness: be “unleavened” in speech, media choices, and relationships. • Serve sacrificially: love others as the Lamb first loved you (Ephesians 5:1-2). Family and Community: Passing the Story On • Tell the next generation the concrete story of Exodus 12 and the cross (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Use tangible symbols—unleavened bread, grape juice, visual aids—to root truth in memory. • Celebrate milestone moments (baptisms, anniversaries of salvation) as modern “stones of remembrance” (Joshua 4:7). Corporate Worship: Gathering Around the Table • Approach Communion with self-examination and unity (1 Corinthians 11:28-29). • Read, sing, and preach texts that trace redemption from Exodus to Revelation. • Leave worship ready to embody the gospel throughout the week—showing a watching world that “this service” is still vibrantly kept. |
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