To celebrate freedom

As I've mentioned before, I'm reading through the history of Israel and the prophets during my quiet time; I started in Kings and just got into Ezra. Something interesting that I've noticed is that the Passover seems to be an indicator of the spiritual health of the nation. You would think that Passover would be like Independance day to the Jews, something everyone celebrates and gets excited about; I suppose the great deal of trouble to prepare for it may make the difference. In any case, it seems that when Israel turns away from God, the Passover is neglected, and when they return to Him it is of great importance.

Hezekiah's Passover

They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written. . . There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. -- 2 Chronicles 30:5,26

Josiah's Passover

The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. -- 2 Chronicles 35:18

Homecoming Passover

On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. . . So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek the LORD, the God of Israel -- Ezra 6:19,21

God called Israel to celebrate the freedom He'd given them, and their response was "I have to get rid of all my yeast? It'll take forever to get my bread started again. I have to consecrate myself? What a pain. I have to kill a lamb and sprinkle the blood on my door post? That's going to stink and stain. I have to be stuck inside? I have to go for my evening walk."
When Christ died for our freedom from sin, that fulfilled all the requirements: "It is finished." When we accept that sacrifice, we pass from death into life: no law, no condemnation. We are called, however, to celebrate that freedom through good works.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God —- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -- Ephesians 2:8-10

How easy it is to ignore these opportunities, dismissing them as inconvenient and saying we weren't sure of His will anyway. How easily we pass up the joy of the celebration because of the trouble to prepare for it. Surely I'm guilty of this.