By Night
“Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.”Deuteronomy 16:1 (KJV)
Israel didn’t walk out of Egypt in daylight after a long period of improvement. “the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.” The rescue came at midnight, in the darkest hour, when they had nothing to offer but the blood on the door.
“And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.” By morning, a nation of slaves was on its way out.
Paul says our rescue came the same way. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” And again: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Not after we got better. While we were still in the dark.
If you are waiting until you’ve cleaned yourself up to come to God, you have it backwards. He comes by night. He comes for the ungodly. That includes you.
Read it yourself
Read Romans 5:6–11. Find the three ways Paul describes us before Christ died for us.
Do you ever feel you need to improve before God will accept you?
Father, you came for me while I was still in the dark. Thank you for a rescue I didn’t earn. Amen.