2 Chronicles 30:13-31:1
Upon receiving the invitation, some of the people of Israel joined the people of Judah and came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The first thing they did was to remove all the idolatrous altars used to burn incense that were found in Jerusalem, and these were thrown into the brook of Kidron (v.14). In that way, they consecrated the city of Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. The best preparation one can make before participating in either the Passover or, for us, the holy communion and worship, is to cast away all our spiritual idolatries.
The common people who gathered in Jerusalem were so zealous to celebrate the Passover that they slaughtered the Passover lamb themselves. Their zeal had put the priests and the Levites to shame, in seeing that the commoners being more ready to bring sacrifices than they were to offer them. The priests and the Levites then consecrated themselves to serve so that the sacrifices can be offered promptly. When we notice the zeal of others to serve and to worship, it should make us ashamed of our own coldness and ignorance, and it should stimulate us not only to do our duty, but to do it well.
Due to their enthusiasm, many in the assembly had slaughtered the Passover lamb and ate it even though they had not consecrated themselves. They were guilty of this. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who were not clean, to consecrate it to the LORD. For spiritual reformation to be acceptable, it is not enough to simply consecrate the city of Jerusalem, but ultimately the people must be consecrated. Their spiritual reformation does not stop merely at the Temple or the city of Jerusalem but it is carried forward to every place, where they lived. After celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh (all the cities in the south and the north) and destroyed all the monuments of idolatry, the altars and the high places (worship sites). This is not a half-hearted spiritual reformation but a wholehearted one. They did not go home until they destroyed all idols and spared none.
Our communion with God should kindle in us a holy zeal and indignation against even the smallest sin, against every thing that is offensive to God. Those that sincerely set themselves against sin will keep the commitment to fight against all kind of sin. And just as the people underwent a spiritual reformation as one united people of God, we too must seek not only to reform ourselves, but the people around us as well. What area of your life needs spiritual reformation? Is there anyone around you that you may minister to, to bring spiritual reformation?