Commemoration Week …. Wednesday <3
While I have spent the past two days re-presenting what this idea of a Commemoration Week is by using some old and new words, I know I need to take a fresh look at the whole thing before the week is over!
Last night I read through the original passages that sparked the idea in two different much-loved versions of Scripture from a shelf of books in our house. One is The Living Bible which was gifted to me as a teen and one is The Message which I purchased three decades ago.
Both of these are considered “Paraphrase” works rather than translations. I love them both for their wording and sometimes turn to them after reading the NIV or NKJV or NASB which are more commonly used.
The phrase that jumped out in both of the readings is the heart of a week of Commemoration…and yes, Exodus 13 and 14 are explaining the reason for the Passover celebration and the parting of the Red Sea…but I still think setting aside a time to remember how awesome God is.
Here is the main point of the week…
“Always remember this day. This is the day when you came out of Egypt from a house of slavery. God brought you out of here with a powerful hand.” Exodus 13: 3
In fairness, this verse does include one more phrase…”Don’t eat any raised bread.” I don’t mean to be selective in my celebration, but I have not incorporated this into the week. Perhaps something to consider in the future…but…
I do know that raised bread meant yeast, and yeast was a symbol of “sin” in the Old Testament. Not that yeast is sinful, but that it represented sin. The Passover did not include yeast because when the Israelites were preparing to escape, they didn’t have time to let the bread rise.
Certainly yeast was used afterwards and not considered sinful but at times, it was appropriate to commemorate their miraculous escape from slavery by removing it from their homes for a time.
In honor of this, during this week I have set aside over the years, I try to remove some things that have become habitual. Things that are part of a life that was bound and do not belong to a life that is free.
This usually means thought patterns and habits that are more suited to a slave life than a free life.
They are different for each of us. You would have to search your heart and soul, mind and spirit and figure out what ruts hold you captive and then decide how to sweep that out…even if you think you can only do it for a few days.
You may have to pull the broom out multiple times, but it is possible.
Prayer is so helpful in this…
Lord, help me to think more positivity about……
Lord, help me to see this one with Your eyes.
Lord, help me to love with Your love.
Lord, show me where I am harboring sin.
He will answer.
Of course He will.
Because as we know…He is, above all, faithful <3