Ex.13:1–10: People Who Live Differently

Ex.13:1–10: People Who Live Differently
<Scripture, 1-10> 1.The Lord said to Moses, 2."Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal."/ 3.Then Moses said to the people, "Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. 4.Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving. 5.When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites-the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey-you are to observe this ceremony in this month: 6.For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. 7.Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. 8.On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.'/9.This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10.You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

<Sermon>
Many people live in this world, but God does not desire for everyone to live in the same way. He declares that His redeemed people must live differently than they did before their salvation. Exodus 13 teaches the Israelites—who had been liberated from slavery in Egypt—that they must now live a different kind of life. Israel was no longer a nation of slaves to Egypt; they had become God’s people. A change in status requires a change in life. The same applies to us who believe in Jesus. We are not people who live according to worldly values, but people who live by the life of Jesus Christ. Therefore, our thoughts, words, use of time and resources, and even the very purpose of our lives must change. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Yet, many believers experience failure more often than victory. The reason for this is not a lack of God’s power, but a lack of preparedness in the "soil" of the heart that receives His Word.  In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explained that the seed represents the Word of God and the soil represents our hearts(Mt.13:3–8, 19–23). Although people hear the same Word, some forget it easily, others give up when faced with trials, and some fail to bear fruit due to worldly worries and greed. However, the "good soil" holds fast to the Word, obeys it to the end, and produces abundant fruit. Today, God calls us to examine our hearts. We must ask ourselves, "What kind of soil am I?" We need to consider whether the Word is transforming our lives or if we remain stuck in our old habits and values.

1, those who live differently are the ones who give God the first place in their lives(13:1-2, 11-16).  God commanded Israel to set apart and offer to Him everything that was firstborn. This was because God had saved them through the blood of the lamb; the firstborn belonged to God. The same principle applies to believers today. God desires the best of our lives—the very first of what we have to offer. Keeping the Lord's Day holy, starting the day with the Word and prayer (such as dawn prayer/QT),&offering the first fruits of our material possessions—the tithe(Mal.3:10)—are not merely obligations; they are confessions of faith declaring, "God is the Master of my life." Those who prioritize God never end up at a loss. God promised, "Those who honor Me I will honor"(1S.2:30). When the famous American businessman W.Colgate was starting his business, an elderly believer gave him this counsel: "Serve God first&give your tithe; God will take responsibility for your life." He upheld this principle throughout his life&built a global enterprise. Even more beautiful than his success is the fact that he joyfully used the blessings he received from God for the sake of God's kingdom. The life of a person who gives God the first place is distinctly different from that of the world.

2, those who live differently are the ones who eat the unleavened bread—Jesus Christ—every day(3-8;Jn.6:53-55).    God commanded the Israelites to eat unleavened bread—bread without yeast (symbolizing sin)—for the week following Passover. Unleavened bread was not a particularly tasty food. However, it served as a sign not to forget the grace of salvation experienced upon leaving Egypt. Today, unleavened bread symbolizes the sinless Jesus Christ and the Word of God for us. Our souls, too, must be nourished by the Word daily to remain alive. While the world is flooded with news and information, our souls easily wither if we do not draw near to the Word. Conversely, those who stay close to the Word remain unshaken even amidst difficult circumstances. Just as a branch attached to the vine bears fruit, those who remain connected to Jesus inevitably undergo transformation. A life of prayer, reading the Word, and cherishing worship—though it may seem ordinary or laborious—is God’s way of fostering the greatest spiritual health.

3, those who live differently are those who live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (21-22 ;Gal.5:16,18,25). The people of Israel did not know the way through the wilderness. Yet, God never left them for a moment, guiding them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Likewise, God guides our life’s path by sending the Holy Spirit to us. Those who live by the Spirit seek God’s will before their own emotions or desires. They forgive even when angry, choose honesty even at a personal cost, and value pleasing God above worldly success. This is the true image of a believer in Jesus. While the world urges us to pursue money and success, God commands us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The world tells us to rise to the top, but Jesus calls us to be servants. The world tells us to hate our enemies, but Jesus commands us to love them. Thus, Christians live in the world, yet they do not live according to the world’s ways; rather, they live by following God.

Conclusion: The Exodus was not merely an event of leaving Egypt; it was an event that transformed their way of life. God did not merely grant salvation; He also taught His redeemed people how they ought to live. God speaks to us today as well: "Offer the firstborn to God. Put away sin and partake of Jesus, the Bread of Unleavened Bread. Live daily by the Word and walk under the guidance of the Holy Spirit." Those who live this way will radiate the fragrance of God in the world and lead blessed lives, setting an example of faith for the next generation.

Resolution: Am I giving God the first place in my life? Do I nourish my soul daily with the Word? Do I live according to the Holy Spirit's guidance rather than my own will? The redeemed are not those who live just like the world, but those who live differently. The people God seeks are precisely such a holy people.

Prayer: Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for rescuing us from sin&death&making us Your children. Help us not to follow worldly values ​​but to place You at the highest position in our lives. May we fill our souls daily with Your Word and Jesus Christ, and live in obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let our lives be holy and set apart from the world, serving as a beautiful example of faith for the next generation. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible Study | Ex.13:1-10, People Who Live Differently
"Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt." (Ex.13:3)
After being delivered from Egypt, the people of Israel were not to continue living as they had before. God commanded them to offer the firstborn to Him, eat unleavened bread, and pass on the grace of salvation to their children. This signifies that the redeemed must adopt a different way of life. The same applies to us who believe in Jesus. A person who lives in the world but does not follow its values ​​is one who puts God first and lives according to His Word. Prioritizing worship, staying close to the Word, and obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit—this is what it means to "live differently." A ship is safe as long as it floats upon the sea; however, if the sea enters the ship, it will eventually sink. We, too, must live in the world, but we must not allow the world's greed and values ​​to dominate our hearts. When we surrender the center of our hearts to God, we can live a life that overcomes the world.

Questions/ 1) What am I placing ahead of God? 2) Do I prioritize the Word and worship in my life? 3) What is one practical step I will take this week to give God the "first place" in my life?
Resolution/ This week, I will dedicate the first part of my life to God (by honoring the Lord's Day). I will cherish worship, meditate on the Word, and—in every situation—choose God's will and the Holy Spirit's guidance above all else, living as a person of faith.

Prayer/ Loving God, thank You for saving me from sin&making me Your child. Help me to live a life that puts You first, rather than following the ways of the world. May I be renewed daily by Your Word&obey the Holy Spirit's leading, living a holy life that radiates the life-giving fragrance of Jesus within the world. I pray in the name of Jesus, who shed His precious blood for me&rose again. Amen.