We are upon a very important time of year in the calendar to God. From the Old Testament we learn that there are several feasts/festivals (read holidays) that will be celebrated soon.

These special days in Scripture, along with others, are called “The Lord’s appointed times.” In general Jewish people take these times very seriously. They even begin preparing for the bigger feasts weeks in advance making sure their homes and hearts are prepared to meet with God.

Taking a lesson from them – how are we preparing as Easter comes closer? Are we so focused on getting our baskets ready for our children or food for family and friends that we’re forgetting to prepare our hearts to meet with God??

So, you ask, how do you prepare your heart to meet with God? Good question 🙂 For the Jewish person the focus is on God and what He did for them as a nation. They remember how they were once slaves in Egypt toiling cruelly under the bondage of Pharaoh.  They remember how God came down and did mighty works on their behalf. They talk about the lack of food, water, the plagues, Moses, and Aaron. They recount the story of Exodus blow by blow savoring all that God did on their behalf to set them free IN ORDER that they could be His people and He their God.

In other words, during this time to prepare their hearts the Jewish people focus on the fact that not only do they have a God who exists, but they also have a God who saves.

According to Paul we have been grafted in to the community of Israel so we too serve and worship the God who set Israel free from bondage to Egypt. We too can rejoice in their salvation and even add to it. We also have been redeemed.

Bc God still saves.

We have been set free “saved” from death, the punishment of our sin, from the wrath of a holy holy God, from trying to live life apart from God. We have been saved IN ORDER to become like Jesus, to become servants of the Most High God, to worship and serve this amazing God.

One simple way to prepare our hearts this season – meditate on the fact that we have a God who saves! What wonderful thing that God does not simply see sin, shrug His shoulders and say “oh darn, wish there was something I could do to make things better…” We serve and worship a God who not only cares but He is One who acts – who saves.

What an amazing and wonderful truth this is! Our God Saves!