My daughter did the most precious thing last night. We were reading our nightly devotional. Each week, the book we use focuses on a particular verse of scripture. It takes that verse and develops a theme for the week, and each day’s devotion pertains to that theme. This week’s verse is John 3:16, and the theme is God gave Himself.

Last night’s devotion focused on the story of the Passover. You can read this story in Exodus Chapter 12. Specifically, the devotion focused on the instructions to the Israelites that each family should slaughter a lamb and take some of the blood and put it on the tops and sides of the doorframes of the homes in which they ate their meals. We talked about how God sent the death angel to kill each firstborn, both men and animals. The blood was a sign that the angel should “pass over” those homes. We then talked about how Jesus is called the “Lamb of God,” and how His death, his shed blood protects us now and forever more.

In the middle of our discussion, my daughter began looking for her stuffed lamb she has whose name is “Precious.” I was a little annoyed because I didn’t think she was paying attention to the story. She assured me she was listening, but Precious had now joined us for the remainder of our discussion. Just as we were finishing up, I noticed that she had her hands over Precious’ ears. I asked her what she was doing, and she responded that she didn’t want Precious to hear because she was afraid it might upset him!

I put on my most serious face and told her that Precious didn’t have anything to worry about because that was the great thing about Jesus’ death and resurrection. We don’t have to offer lambs as sacrifices anymore, nor we will ever have to again, because the One True Lamb paid that price for all time.

Blessings,