Remember

Read Exodus 12-13:16
 
Exodus 12:13-14 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.”
 
HERE is an easy way to remember where the Passover scripture is: Exodus 12, 13, 14. 
   “Remember” is a key word in this passage and in God’s continuing covenant to be our God. Throughout the Old Testament, God will call his people to “Remember.” He says in Exodus 12:24 “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever.” Moses commands it in Exodus 13:3 “So Moses said to the people, “This is a day to remember forever—the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the Lord has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand.”  At the end of the Old Testament record, about 1400 years later, God spoke through the prophet “Remember to obey the Law of Moses, my servant—all the decrees and regulations that I gave him on Mount Sinai for all Israel.” (Malachi 4:4)
   Why remember? What happens if Israel would forget? To not remember the Passover, Israel would forget God’s profound grace to save them from Egypt’s slavery and the plague of death that dreadful night by the lamb’s blood on the doorpost. To not remember God’s grace, Israel would not know the special purpose God has called them to as his people. To not remember God’s love, grace, and salvation, Israel would worship idols and turn their hearts to terrible sins. To not remember, Israel would not trust God’s covenants to be their God.
   But Israel did forget. When they reached the Promised Land, they stopped remembering who had led them there and who had given them the land. They would forget God and forget his Passover grace. They forgot the laws and the commanded feasts. Their lost memory caused a lost relationship with El Shaddai – the eternal, giving God. Nearly all of Israel would become a wandering people because they forgot who to follow.
   Thankfully in his grace, Jesus came to restore mankind’s memory. The New Testament is a new blood sacrifice all people in Christ are to remember. Here’s why: Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me. This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” (Luke 22:19-20)
   In what way might you need to be closer to God today? Whatever you need, stop to remember who God is. Remember what he is love. Remember what he has done for your life now and forevermore. Remember you are saved by grace, chosen by God to have the mark of Jesus’ blood on your soul. Remember, the plague of death will not touch you because the Father has struck the Lamb, whose blood is marked on your heart.