Throughout Deuteronomy God is emphatic that HE wants the Israelites to remember that they were slaves in Egypt and that they were delivered by the "outstretched arm of the Lord."
Deut 5:15--‘You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.
Deut 15:15--“You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.
Deut 16:12--“You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
Deut 24:18--“But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and that the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.
Deut 24:22--“You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.
We see in our reading today that the purpose of the Passover was to be a reminder for generations to come of the miraculous deliverance of the outstretched arm of the Lord. Part of the Passover celebration included reenacting aspects of what happened the night of Passover. In the same way, we as Christians celebrate the LORD'S SUPPER, it is no coincidence that this was the Passover meal, to remember the great deliverance, the outstretched arm of the LORD, as Jesus delivered us from sin, death and Satan!
Deut 16:2-4 Sacrifice to the Lord your God a Passover animal from the herd or flock in the place where the Lord chooses to have His name dwell. 3 You must not eat leavened bread with it. For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread with it, the bread of hardship—because you left the land of Egypt in a hurry—so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt. 4 No yeast is to be found anywhere in your territory for seven days, and none of the meat you sacrifice in the evening of the first day is to remain until morning.
Steven Curtis Chapman came out with a song several years ago that called us as Christ followers to remember, to remember our chains, the chains of sin. I found a video clip online of him performing the song at a Billy Graham Crusade.
I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking
As he stared out the window through the sky
It seemed he was taking his last look at freedom
From the hopeless, longing look in his eyes
There were chains on his hands and chains on his feet
And as I passes him by the thought came to me
[Chorus:]
Remember your chains
Remember the prison that one held you
Before the love of God broke through
Remember the place you were without grace
When you see where you are now
Remember your chains
And remember your chains are gone
There's no one more thankful to sit at the table
Than the one who best remembers hunger's pain
And no heart loves greater than the one that is able
To recall the time when all it knew was the shame
The wings of forgiveness can take us to heights never seen
But the wisest ones, they will never lose sight of where they were set free
Love set them free
[Chorus:]
So remember your chains
Remember the prison that one held you
Before the love of God broke through
Remember the place you were without grace
When you see where you are now
Remember your chains
And remember your chains are gone
[Bridge:]
And in the light of all that we've been forgiven of
We will find our hearts fuller and freer
To give and receive God's love
[Chorus:]
So remember your chains
Remember the prison that one held you
Before the love of God broke through
Remember the place you were without grace
When you see where you are now
Remember your chains
Oh, remember your chains
When you remember your chains
Remember your chains are gone
Imagine what your life would be
If Jesus had not set you free
Remember your chains are gone
Remember all that once held you
Before the love of God broke through
Remember your chains
And remember your chains are gone
We know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we are taught we will know the Truth and the Truth will make you free! Jesus through HIS blood has set the captives free...to the glory and praise of God the Father!
Revelation 1:5-8 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”
What has HE set us free for? Did HE set us free by HIS OWN BLOOD that we might pursue the American Dream? Did God the Father send HIS ONLY BEGONNEN TO DIE FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD THAT WE MIGHT PURSUE HEALTH, WEALTH AND PROSPERITY? I don't think so! You might be thinking...Mark you are sounding a little (or a lot) sarcastic in your tone...remember sarcasm can be a spiritual gift:) I believe in this case it is.
We are exhorted over and over to remember, to remember the great deliverance the LORD Jesus won for us through HIS death, burial and resurrection. Then what? I confess that I have to stop when I come to Luke 9:23 and confess to my heavenly Father that my flesh does not get excited about taking up my cross. Whatever else this verse teaches, it certainly smashes the health, wealth and prosperity gospel to smithereens. What does this passage teach if it does not teach self-denial...turn from sin and self and turning to Christ alone. Turning to Christ alone that I may receive the true treasure...WHAT IS THE GOSPEL...WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS? IT IS THAT WE...SINNERS, DESERVING OF DEATH, ETERNAL HELL...ARE MADE ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST IN THE HEAVENLIES AND WE GET GOD, WE GET TO KNOW HIM, LOVE HIM, ENJOY HIM AND DELIGHT IN HIM.
Luke 9:23-27
Take Up Your Cross
23 Then He said to ⌊them⌋ all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. 25 What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and that of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth: there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
We should not be surprised by the fact that we have trouble in this life! As Children of God actually you can count on trouble, and if you are not in trouble in this life then I have grave concerns for your eternal future. Why else would Jesus say in John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” He does not say you might have trouble or sufferings, HE says you WILL!
In Luke 9:20 Jesus asks a watershed question...it was a defining moment for Peter and it is for you and I as well. The question still is asked today...who do you say that HE is? OK, you give mental assent that HE is the Christ, the Son of God...WHO DO YOU SAY THAT HE IS WITH THE WAY YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE? The way you spend your time, your money, your resources? Does what you say match how you live?
Please keep in mind I am asking myself these same questions...I don't always like my answers!
Father in heaven,
Fill us with YOUR Holy Spirit and enable us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling! Enable us to love YOU as YOU command us to love, enable us to pursue YOU in a way that is worthy of who YOU are...open the eyes of our hearts that we may see and behold YOUR glory in Jesus Christ. Enable us to take up our cross and follow YOU. Enable us to be able to say with the Apostle Paul, I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me...
Work this for YOUR glory and our JOY in YOU.
love,
m