To All:
I just have to share this or I will bust. To make a long story short I just recently learned of the beauty of the Holydays vs. our "Christian" Holidays. I was initially feeling condemned for not spending it with folks who are into the "restoration movement" that have gone a little "too far." When I say "too far" I mean that they have to worship on Saturday and feel that you must do likewise to keep the "Sabbath Commandment". Rather, what the Spirit lead me to do was stay home and do a little work around the house all weekend. My family was away and it was just me at home alone. It was during that time, puttering around the house, that I was thinking about the Passover and the freedom that we have in Christ, the freedom that we have from the slavery of sin or the "law of sin and death", the freedom from having to obtain righteousness by "obeying the law" but obtaining the "life of the Spirit" through simple obedience. I was thinking about all the elements of the Passover and I was simply blown away thinking about the bitterness of our past slavery to sin; as Paul would say, "that I do not wish to do that I do," the increadable joy of being set free, and the enormity of His sacrifice. I was thinking about the cup of Elijah and that one of these days we will all be seated at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. I was thinking about the hidden matzo and how many will meet their savior and the increadable joy and the spirit of rejoicing they will feel as I did when I first believed. I then started thinking about the days of Unleavened Bread beginning at Passover and continuing on for the next week and how I just desired to have the Spirit point out and eliminate all the yeast (sin) in my life so that I can be closer to Jesus and continue to be conformed to His image. I say all this to say that all this joy was obtained by simply being available and obedient to the Spirit. Is this not what all the "shadows and types" of the Old Testament pointed to? Where they not pointing to this "law of the Spirit of life in Christ". I just wanted to share what these past few days have meant to me and that none of it was obtained by what day of the week I worshipped on, whether I was working or at rest, or if I was in a church or not, or whether I celebrated a Holyday or a Holiday, I could use the name Yahweh, Yashua, Jesus, or God. It didn't matter whether I was eating unleaved bread or not or if I was eating clean or unclean animals, I didn't have to wash my hands first, or be baptized, or go to confession or perform any other ritual to obtain Jesus' favor and forgiveness. You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free...
David <><