THANKSGIVING--A RERUN FOR TODAY

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Every great story reruns in cycles throughout history. For instance, the original story of thanksgiving has to do with the pilgrims who escaped bondage to be free here in this country. This story is not original at all. There is a great story several hundred years prior to the pilgrims. It’s known as the Exodus, when the Jews were led out of bondage into freedom by God through the leadership of Moses.

The main event that set the Jewish people free is called the Passover. God’s death angel was sent through the country of Egypt to kill the first born. Only those who had applied the blood of a lamb over the doorpost were “passed over” and their lives saved. So, the Jewish people to this day celebrate this feast as a time of moving from bondage to freedom.

The story continues today. We all have issues that bind us and weigh us down from the past. What we’re looking for is to be free.

Well, Jesus fleshes out the answer today to our freedom. His answer began way back at the time of the first Passover and it’s all tied up in a couple of agreements.

The first agreement was made through Moses, when God gave him the Law. The Jewish people entered into an agreement with God to keep His Law and become a blessing to the world. Every Jewish Passover dinner throughout the centuries has celebrated this agreement as they remember that what God did for them in setting them free.

About 800 years after the Exodus and the giving of the Law of Moses a prophet by the name of Jeremiah ministered to the Jewish people. Through Jeremiah God revealed that there would someday be a second agreement. Whereas the Law of Moses was written on stones, the second agreement would be written in the hearts of man.

A little over 600 years later Jesus was celebrating the Feast of the Passover with His disciples. And, at this dinner He fleshed out this second agreement with these early disciples. The Christians call it “communion”, but Jesus referred to it as a covenant supper. He was actually making a covenant (an agreement) with His disciples to be connected until He returns. He was also leading them into an agreement with one another to be connected in Jesus. This covenant supper was a powerful experience for these disciples. And, if we properly understood it as an agreement with Jesus and with one another, we might experience the same kind of dynamic.

So, what’s your story? How does your story recycle this same story-line of the Exodus and Passover as well as the early celebration of the pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving dinner?

It’s all about being free! So, what is it that has had you in bondage throughout your life or most recently in your experience? Whatever it may be, Jesus wants to film a rerun in your life. He wants to forgive you of those bad choices and entanglements and set you free.

Listen to Luke’s words in the thirteenth chapter of Acts: "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Today on this Thanksgiving holiday you have lots to celebrate. You are forgiven and you are free. I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel absolutely whole and acceptable before the Lord. To me, that’s Thanksgiving!