LET US KEEP THE FEAST

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

JULY 15

 

1 Corinthians 5:8

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven,

neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;

but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 
Paul is referring to the Passover;—
  when the lamb was slain,
  the door-posts sprinkled,
  the first-born of the Egyptians destroyed, and
  the deliverance of Israel secured.
 
Christ is our Passover lamb; his blood was shed for us,
 and is sprinkled upon us; our foes are destroyed,
and our salvation secured.
 
The Israelites were to feed on the lamb, whose blood secured them;
and we are to feed on Christ, by whose blood we are redeemed.
 
“Therefore let us keep the feast.”
 
It is a feast upon a sacrifice, upon Christ as crucified for us.
 
He is not only our ransom, but our food.
 
Our souls are fed, by taking in believing views of his glorious person,
 finished work—complete conquest—and eternal honours.
 
The eye should be daily directed with Christ.
 
The mind should be engaged with Christ.
 
The mind should feed upon Christ.
 
We are invited to a feast, the substance of that feast is Christ.
 
Let us then daily keep the feast.—Let us keep it with much prayer.
 
With hearty praise.
 
In faith and hope.
 
With humility and seriousness.
 
With godly sorrow, and lively joy.
 
Let us keep it for God has bidden us.
 
Let us keep it,—for we honour Jesus by doing so.
 

On Jesus let us daily feed,

And keep the gospel feast;

In him is all our souls can need,

Life, health, and food, and rest.

 
James Smith