Are there special days you like to remember? Do you celebrate them in a special way? Do you throw big parties inviting family and friends to celebrate with you? Are there celebrations that last more than a day? Are any of those celebrations to celebrate what God has done?
All of us have special days in our lives. We celebrate birthdays, first dates, wedding anniversaries, and job anniversaries. As a community we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of a town or the dedication of a building. We celebrate national holidays.
Celebrations of special days are good. For many of us those celebrations break up the normalcy of life. They give us a break from the day-to-day humdrum. Family and friends come together. We grill. We make homemade ice cream. We exchange gifts. We eat pie or cake. On some occasions we eat certain foods, such as black-eyed peas or cabbage.
The Israelites were to eat designated foods on Passover as well. God had given them specific instructions on how to prepare the lamb, the bread, and even how they were to dress and the manner in which they were to eat. They were to conduct a festival to celebrate God freeing them from Egypt. How do we celebrate God freeing us?
Christmas has become so commercialized, even Christians who remember Jesus’ birth still spend exorbitant amounts of money on gifts. Easter has become a time when we feel compelled to buy new clothes to wear on that Sunday. We have become more focused on our celebration than on the reason for the celebration.
Take a few moments to look at how God told the Israelites to celebrate Passover, to remember him. It was an austere celebration. Dressed to leave at a moment’s notice. The lamb was roasted and the bread was unleavened, so they could take the bread with them. They were to mark the doorpost of their house, nothing more.
Do not misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with decorations, clothing, gift giving, nor special foods…unless they become more the focus than God, who is the reason for our celebration. It is only when we fully understand, deep in our heart, that God has blessed us with each day that we will focus on his amazing works in our lives.
I pray we all realize that each day is given to us by God. I pray we give him the honor due him for his amazing blessings. I pray each one of us will focus on God on those special days rather than on ourselves. Give thanks to God for each day. Put your focus on him. Give God the honor he deserves.
Exodus 12:14 This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
Marty Pressey 