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And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Heb 11:6 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Friday, November 13, 2026
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :The Versions of the Ten Commandments [6] Bible Verse :Exodus 34: 23-24 "Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will cast out nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land, when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year. " Message:
Today’s quote requires all the males to gather three times a year for celebration. We get a good glimpse of how these laws were carried out because of the Gospels, when Jesus goes to Jerusalem for Passover. Women and children would make the trip if they were able, although they could be excused; but it was mandatory on men of full age (about 20) and strongly encouraged for older boys.
modernist group worshipping in unity
All One in Christ
Soichi Watanabe
They would form up as a caravan for protection and company, and in modern terminology, have a party. In many cases (as with Joseph’s family in Galilee) it was a journey of several days. The most striking characteristic of the three enumerated celebrations is that they were community celebrations. A town or village traveled as a group, and everyone in Israel was expected to attend, either in person or by the proxy of male family members.
We have come to see our Christian celebrations more and more as family affairs; and indeed, in many cases, it is difficult enough to get family members together. But there is no mistaking that the spirit of this law requires the faithful to gather as a community of believers, not as a cohort of blood relatives or friends.
We can see this reflected clearly in the habits of devout Christian communities throughout history. Picture an early Pilgrim Thanksgiving, and you picture the entire community gathered together. If you study the Amish today (whose “family values” are among the strongest in the world), their celebrations are markedly celebrations, not of families, but of their church community.
geometric cross grey yellow
The issue that we have been struggling with, in our last several discussions of Exodus, is: What did God actually intend to be included in the Ten Commandments? And in my opinion, one can make a good case that the community celebration of two or three feasts to God each year should be included in them.
Living as a Christian in our increasingly secular society, where aggressive atheism is markedly on the rise, there is a corresponding tendency for Christians to become isolated. It is in fact quite difficult, for many people, not to become isolated. But those of us who face this hurdle must resist it.
So, examining Exodus 20 and 34 together, one can make a very good case that the meaning of one of the “ten” commandments is “Thou shalt gather together with others who fear God to worship and celebrate, for a major festival, three times per year.” If this sounds moralistic or proscriptive, it is not; it is a commandment given to us because of how much God loves us. It is a commandment created to ease our burdens, to lead us to happier, more productive, more joyous lives, and to help us walk closer to God.
Meditation : Prayer : Oh God who has made me, oh God who keeps me, oh God who will be my Lord through all eternity, shine down Your blessings and wisdom upon me like the sun upon a field; and may I keep You in the forefront of my every thought and deed, throughout this day, and evermore. Amen. |
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