Here we are once again observing the days of Unleavened Bread. Many of you have been observing these days for well over 50 years. We know well that these days symbolize putting sin out of our lives. Before we eat and drink of the symbols of the New Covenant Passover, we examine ourselves through God’s great spiritual mirror—the Word of God. It is the Word of God that reveals to us the very inner most parts of our being—the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Note the words of the apostle Paul: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, King James Version). In preparation for observing the Passover we examined ourselves through the Word of God and repented of the old leaven of malice and wickedness. As we humbly partook of the bread and wine in remembrance of the great sacrifice that freed us from the penalty of sin and death, a sense of peace and tranquility settled over our beings. We were at peace with God, Christ and each member of the Body of Christ. All was well in our minds and hearts.

The Scriptures speak of peace with God and the peace of God. The death of Jesus Christ reconciled us to the Father, making peace with the Father. Note once again the inspired words of the apostle Paul: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10, KJV). We also want and need to experience the peace of God on a daily basis. According to the apostle Paul the peace of God surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

Reconciliation with God the Father paves the way for God and Christ to live in us (John 14:23). After repentance, faith in the sacrifice of Christ and baptism, we have hands laid on us and receive the Holy Spirit. As noted in the verse above, having been reconciled to God by the death of His son we shall be saved by His life. The Spirit of God and the Word of God serves to nourish and sustain us spiritually so we can live in a reconciled position with God, Christ and each member of the Body of Christ.

How can we experience the peace of God on a daily basis—keep sin out of our lives—and continually live the Days of Unleavened Bread? There are at least 10 scriptures in the Old Testament that admonish us to eat unleavened bread for seven days and abstain from leavened bread. Here is one of those verses: “And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread” (Leviticus 23:6, KJV). The emphasis seems to be on eating unleavened bread. After all, it is called “the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” The apostle Paul instructs us to keep the feast “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus in His great prayer and petition to God before his betrayal, mock trial and cruel crucifixion states, “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth (John 17:17). Now note the words of Jesus in John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63, KJV). Jesus equates the words that He speaks with spirit and life. This is one of the most powerful and important verses in the Word of God. This verse provides us with the knowledge and understanding of how we can be nourished by the Word of God and keep sin out of our lives.

As noted above, ancient Israel was instructed to eat unleavened bread for seven days during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Those who have entered into the terms of the New Covenant are admonished to eat and drink of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth on a daily basis. In resisting Satan’s great temptations, Jesus rejected his temptations by quoting Scripture. In response to Satan’s temptation to turn stones into bread, Jesus states: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, KJV). “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3, KJV). Even the manna that the Israelites ate was to remind them that the true bread is the Word of God.

Note the words of Jesus: “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:33-35, KJV). In the preceding verses we clearly see that Jesus is the true bread sent from heaven—He gave himself a ransom for sin. Moreover, He spoke the words of life—the words that the Father gave Him to speak. These are the words that sanctify and give life.

We are instructed to eat of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth every day. Paul writes: “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16, KJV). If we renew the inward man daily with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth we can keep sin out of our lives and continually live the Days of Unleavened Bread. Note the words of the Psalmist: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:9-11, KJV). If we study and meditate on the Word of God, He will write it on our hearts so we can continually be led by the Spirit and Word of God (Romans 8:14; Hebrews 10:15-16).

If we continually focus and feast on the words of sincerity and truth we can grow in peace with God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. And we can go to on to perfection and sanctification. I pray that we all experience a most blessed and inspiring Feast of Unleavened Bread now and forever.