METHODIST DAILY REFLECTION FOR TODAYSATURDAY, 5TH SEPTEMBER 2026 - THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
DATE: SATURDAY, 5TH SEPTEMBER 2026
THEME: THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
PASSAGE: EXODUS 12:1-14
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
MESSAGE:
Exodus 12: 1-14 recounts the establishment of the Passover, a festival commemorating God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It details the instructions for preparing the Passover meal, emphasizing the use of a lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs, all signifying the Israelites' liberation and their future freedom. The blood of the lamb, applied to the doorposts of the houses, served as a sign to God, ensuring that the Israelites were spared from the plague that struck Egypt.
The Passover as a Memorial: The Passover is established as a memorial to God's deliverance, a recurring event that reminds the Israelites of their liberation and the need to trust in God's saving power.
The Significance of the Lamb: This sacrifice represents the ultimate sacrifice that would later be fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God".
Unleavened Bread and Bitter Herbs: The consumption of unleavened bread symbolizes the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt and their lack of time to prepare leavened bread. The bitter herbs remind them of the bitterness of their slavery in Egypt.
The Blood as a Sign: The blood of the lamb, applied to the doorposts of the houses, serves as a sign to God, distinguishing the Israelites from the Egyptians and ensuring that the plague passes over their homes.
The Eucharist: The Eucharist, a Christian sacrament, is often seen as a continuation of the Passover, with the bread and wine representing the body and blood of Jesus Christ, who is the "true Passover Lamb."
Freedom and Liberation: The Passover is a reminder of God's power to deliver His people from oppression and bondage, a message that resonates with those who are seeking liberation and freedom.
In essence, Exodus 12:1-14 is a foundational text for understanding the Passover festival and its significance for the Israelites and for Christians who see it as a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice.
MEMORY VERSE:
"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." Exodus 12: 13
HYMN: MHB 181 (7.6.7.6.7.6.7.6) LAMB of God, whose dying love
1. LAMB of God, whose dying love
We now recall to mind,
Send the answer from above,
And let us mercy find;
Think on us, who think on Thee;
And every struggling soul release;
O remember Calvary,
And bid us go in peace.
2. By Thine agonizing pain
And sweat of blood, we pray,
By Thy dying love to man,
Take all our sins away:
Burst our bonds, and set us free;
From all iniquity release;
O remember Calvary,
And bid us go in peace!
3. Let Thy blood, by faith applied,
The sinner's pardon seal;
Speak us freely Justified,
And all our sickness heal;
By Thy passion on the tree,
Let all our griefs and troubles cease;
O remember Calvary,
And bid us go in peace!
PRAYER:
God, I look unto Thee. Help my soul to seek Thee every day of my life, in Jesus' precious Name I pray. Amen.
READ:
DAY: Ezekiel 5-6
NIGHT: Ezekiel 7-8