I confessed in my last My Reading Life post that I’m a fickle reader when it comes to fiction and that I was finding it difficult to make it a priority in my reading life. That was back in June and nothing has changed.

I recently took far too long to finish a phenomenal historical fiction book, Christmas at Carnton, by Tamera Alexander. I absolutely loved the book! The plot was fascinating, the historical details rich, and her writing style is captivating. I live 40 minutes away from Franklin Tennessee where the book is set. I had one of the best museum tours of my life there not too long ago, which made the book even more appealing. But I also launched my new children’s book this past summer, and am still in that season where I find reading fiction less “productive.” Which is why I still read more non-fiction these days and why another book by Alexander is still sitting on my dining room table untouched.

The good news is, I’ve finished several non-fiction books recently, so I feel very ‘productive’ 😉 It’s a silly season for a book lover like me, I know, but seasons come and go.

Jewish Feasts

One non-fiction read I’m currently working through with my adult daughters is a fascinating Bible study of the 7 Jewish Feasts, titled Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament. We’ve met weekly for book/Bible studies since January, and we started this one in October which was perfect timing, because all three fall feasts landed in October this year.

Now, I know as Christians we are not required to celebrate God’s High Holy Days, but our family has been slowly learning more about why we might want to.

What I have found in my studies is that honoring these Feasts powerfully illuminates the finished work of Jesus. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fulfilled what the Jewish people worked so hard to accomplish through the Law, and which could only be done by them in part.

For instance, Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, was the one day each year when the high priest entered the most Holy Place to bring sacrifices for the sins and rebellion of Israel. There were stringent rules for entering and exiting, and there was the slaughtering of animals and sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat. It was a solemn, gory, bloody day. But it was required, because our God is Holy and we all sin and fall short of His glory (Romans 3:23).

Our High Priest

But now? Now that Jesus our High Priest willingly took our sins upon Himself, and offered His own life as the perfect, most precious sacrifice of all, we can come boldly to God’s mercy seat and find grace and help for every need (Hebrews 4:16). We can be cleansed from all sin, and we can walk in freedom. Hallelujah!

This quote from the book sums up for me the value of honoring the Jewish Feasts.  “The Old and New Testaments work together like interlocking pieces of the same puzzle to point us to Jesus and His redemptive work in our lives. Without both pieces of the puzzle, the image would be incomplete.”

What do you think? Do you celebrate the Jewish Feasts?

Join us today on My Reading Life while author Karen Ferguson tells us all about her reading life #reading #readingcommunity Share on X

Meet Karen

Karen Ferguson is a freelance writer and the author of the Questions for Kids picture book series. A lover of words, family, animals, and Jesus, Karen is a passionate advocate for truth that transforms lives. Her faith in God and background in K-8 education inspires her mission to write stories that grab and hold young readers’ attentions, teaching them all about God’s unchangeable truths and His unchanging love for them.

Learn more via her BRRC profile page

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