This week is Passover. Before that night, God brought 10 plagues upon Egypt one after another. At first, life got even harder for the enslaved Israelites. But God was preparing the way for physical and spiritual freedom. Jesus is the reality of the Passover Lamb, the Messiah who was promised for the Jews and for all people. (Isaiah 53) If we have repented and have been forgiven through the blood of Jesus, the angel of Death has no hold on us in eternity. And today’s verse promises there is more! 

For those in Jesus, God continues to show us grace, provide for us, and bring justice through all of life’s challenges. The context of today’s verse mentions types of adversity we may face. Even after the great deliverance in Exodus, God’s people faced challenges from evil people, spiritual forces, or consequences of their own sin. Physical danger and times of need tested their faith. When they cooperated with God, they saw His provision and their faith got stronger. 

Some people will observe this week by eating Matzoh (bread without yeast or leaven), as the Israelites did the night of the Exodus. We are encouraged, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) Through the blood of Jesus, we can love God in truth. We can live a holy life and love our neighbor sincerely. 

Praise God, who has loved us with an everlasting love! When we have been made right with God through repentance, trust, and surrender to Jesus, there is no stronger bond. Then, no enemy is stronger. Then, no one and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Blessed are you, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe. I thank You that You, O Lord, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving. Thank You for loving me while I was still Your enemy and living in sin. Thank You for Jesus, the Passover Lamb, through whom there is forgiveness and restoration. Help me to live sincerely. Remind me of Your Word when I face adversity and show me the path to overcoming. O Lord, I want to be more than a conqueror, I want to live a spiritually victorious life. I want more than my personal victory. I want others to be drawn to Jesus when they see Your work in my life. I love You, Lord. Help me to love You in truth. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Victory in Jesus will not come by responding to false accusations with gossip, or to persecution with hatred, or to distressing situations with anger or fear. Scripture gives us guidance for responding to adversity, so be spending time in God’s word and in prayer. Then, like Jesus, you will be able to respond to temptation or adversity with God’s word, in strength and peace.