PARADIGM
Part one
of fourteen in Commanded “Holy Days”
Importance Today series
Exodus
23:2a: “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”
Paradigm [PARE-a-dime] is an idea, a
concept, or theory. Once established, many
swear that their believed paradigm is true.
Convincing someone to change a paradigm isn’t easy. People usually cling to a standard from which
all other beliefs originate.
For example, Acts 12:4b says, “Herod
intended to bring Him out for public trial after the Passover.” The King James Version of the Bible
mistranslated the Greek word “Passover” as “Easter”. From this one mistaken translation,
Christians believe that God’s command to celebrate Passover does not mean
them. (After all, Passover is Old
Testament).
HOWEVER…
Moses instructs the people in Exodus
12:24-25, “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your
descendants. When you enter the land
that the LORD will give you as He promised, observe this ceremony [Passover].”
Leviticus 23:1-3 lists God’s
instructions to Moses. “The LORD said to
Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are My appointed
feasts, the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred
assemblies. There are six days when you
may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred
assembly. You are not to do any work;
wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord.’”
The USA enacted “Blue Laws” even before
becoming a nation. One state at a time,
laws forbade alcohol consumption, sporting events, lewd dress, and stores open
for business on Sunday. Since that
beginning, strict religious laws have relaxed.
The Blue Law paradigm was successfully changed and embraced by most
people.
Why not Google “Blue Laws” to see
what remains in your state?
Those who strive to obey God never
work on Sundays. They want to remain
positioned under the blood of Christ’s covenant of grace believing that—in Christ—Gentiles
(non-Israelites) are included under God’s covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
(Galatians 3:28). We look forward to hearing
Master Jesus say from Matthew 25:34: “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your
inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Take Home Nugget
Christians
are positive that Christmas and Easter are the holiest worship days of the year. Yet, neither are mentioned in the Bible. Now you understand how hard it is to change
an established paradigm. God our Father
has a different list of holy days for His kids to celebrate. See the lesson linked below.
Please return as we explore Commanded “Holy Days” Relevance Today series
of devotions together.
Holy
Father, Empower us by Your Spirit to learn truths from Your Word compared to
our personal paradigms. We pray this in
Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Adapted from God’s Holy Day
Plan, The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. ©1966, 1998, 2001, 2010, 2013 by the United
Church of Christ. Ohio. Pgs. 3-6.
J.D. Griffith
The latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:
To
order “Meet Guardian Archangels” click here
Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:
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What an honor it is to meet you!
My background is a life time of worship, but seriously following Jesus came with age. Spiritual maturity is a leap of faith. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing until living on the edge of God’s leading. My life of self sufficiency ended abruptly when losing my job as an analytical chemist after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now living on the edge of God’s leading has become a way of life that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Surrendering one’s will to the Lord can be scary. Why did I wait so long to do it? Diving into an intimate relation with the sovereign God of creation is the most secure position in the universe. Will you share your experience with me? Will you let me give you my testimony? May I introduce you to the Jesus I know?