Key Verse: Exodus 12:14
So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.

Be sure to tell the next generations that Christ is our Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7). Choose that time with the children carefully. Repeat the story in a variety of ways over and over. Ask God for creativity in the way you do it (Deut. 11:19). Christ was without defect (Ex. 12:5). The lamb was consumed by fire (verses 6 – 9). Christ took the “fire” in suffering. Not a bone was to be broken (Ex. 12:46, Ps. 22:17, Jn. 19:36). The blood of the sacrifice was applied (Ex. 12:22-23, Col. 1:20, 1 Jn. 1:8-9). Keeping this “ordinance” (an order) was absolutely essential (Ex. 12:24, Heb. 9:22). Please do your best over the next hours to look up these references. Make this not just a devotional but a Bible study.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I believe You were sacrificed as my Passover Lamb. I believe that Your blood was shed for me. I apply, by faith, Your blood to the doorposts of my household for salvation and protection. I can only say “thanks” by giving my life to You and by leaving the bondage of sin in obedience to Your orders. I have a brand new life because of Your precious blood. It’s all through You, Christ Jesus, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:
After our children were tucked into bed, Norma-Jean and I would kiss them and say, “Lord Jesus, cover them with Your precious blood. Keep them safe.” Norma-Jean would sing, “All hail King Jesus, all hail Emmanuel, King of kings, Lord of lords, bright Morning Star…” What a confidence! What a comfort! I’m an old softie and I still do this when I’m with our now 53, 54, 56, & 57 year-old children. Of course I don’t tuck them in, but I pray with them as often as I can. It is my conviction that having fathered children, the greatest tragedy would be for them to be lost for all eternity. One of my children, when a teenager, strayed away from God one evening, coming home later than our rules allowed. I went to my knees and said, “Lord, if I die on this spot, I’m not stopping my cries to You until this child repents.” At about 2 a.m. I felt an arm around my neck and heard sobbing, and the words, “Daddy, I won’t do these things ever again. I’m sorry. I’ve asked God to forgive me and I’m asking you to forgive me too.” We wept together.

Yours for our children, our children’s children, and beyond,

David