We are approaching the Church of God version of what they call Passover and those fun boys in Cincinnati have a new plan for the season. In COGland, the Passover is the yearly cleansing ceremony when all the past sins of the previous year are wiped clean. Apparently, this year they are to re-pledge to do better in order to find their faith strengthened. Perhaps if they focused their ministry on the New Covenant and what it accomplished they would realize that that strength they long for is always there for those who understand it. It's not something to be renewed once a year.
When it comes to planning, we are all in a most important time of preparation as we approach the Passover, and recommit and recount the fact that “Indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). This simple statement is full of profound meaning.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were to choose and then sacrifice the finest, strongest, very best Passover lamb that was without blemish or defect (Exodus 12). God told them to take the best and kill it, so symbolically the consequence of sin could be understood.
When Christ was put to death for our sin, the Father God was offering His very best. Jesus was in the prime of His life—sinless, flawless, perfect (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Father gave his most excellent and only Son to die the death each one of us deserves so that we could have forgiveness and be brought back into a right relationship with Him (Matthew 26:28). What a marvelous plan!
Planning is certainly a focus. So as we plan for this coming Passover, we contemplate, reflect, and re-pledge our loyalty to our Father and Savior, and have our faith strengthened by the love, sacrifice and profound gift of God.
—Steve Myers, Operation Manager, Ministerial and Member Services