Open Crowd?
Opening Prayer
You might like to connect with God today by praying: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:9).
Read Exodus 12:43-51
[43] The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal: “No foreigner may eat it. [44] Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him, [45] but a temporary resident or a hired worker may not eat it. [46] “It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones. [47] The whole community of Israel must celebrate it. [48] “A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it. [49] The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you.” [50] All the Israelites did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. [51] And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How did the Israelites react to these regulations and commands?God’s rules about who can celebrate Passover seem exclusive, but a closer reading shows something else. When the Israelites left Egypt, “many other people went up with them” (38), and thoughtful Israelites may have seen that as one way in which God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:3b) was being fulfilled. Although these non-Israelites were unable to eat the Passover unless they fulfilled the strict conditions set out here, the fact that they were considered an integral part of the Israelite community, for whom special regulations were needed, is in itself striking. So often our Christian gatherings can look exclusive, with those on the fringes experiencing alienation rather than fellowship. God’s people are meant to be warm and welcoming. This then gives people a context in which to explore the new life God offers (John 3:16). Thankfully, because of Jesus’ death on the cross, belonging no longer means enduring the pain of circumcision (48)! But there may be other barriers that we have to remove in order for people to be comfortable in our gatherings. Let’s be aware of those and remove any we see.
Apply
How could you and your church be better at welcoming outsiders into the warmth of your fellowship?
Closing prayer
My God, show me someone on the edge of my church community whom I can invite and include today.
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