Tithe as Sacred

Today's Reading
Deuteronomy Chp 26

I am aware of God's command to tithe, yet I am reminded today of how my blessings come from Him and remain his and I am only a steward of these blessings. I need to set aside the tithe as sacred.

¹² When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. ¹³ Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. ¹⁴ I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead.

I can't recall tithe being referred to as "sacred" (dictionary defines as dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of God). Regardless, with such a definition, unless I tithe I am not just holding back from God - I am STEALING what is His. This is of course entirely different. As scripture indicates, I must remove the tithe from my house and give it (back) to God.

My Prayer: Lord, you have blessed me financially beyond what I have imagined. Forgive me for my greed and selfishness. Help me to tithe and to also be a good steward of how you have blessed me. Help me return to you what is yours.

Tithing of First Fruits

Today's Reading
Numbers chps 17-18

While I am aware of how scripture instructs us to tithe, it is reinforced through the reading of these two chapters, including

²⁵ The LORD said to Moses, ²⁶ "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD's offering. ²⁷ Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. ²⁸ In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD's portion to Aaron the priest. ²⁹ You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.' ³⁰ "Say to the Levites: 'When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. ³¹ You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting. ³² By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.' " (Numbers 18:25-32)

From here I get we must not only tithe but we tithe before we give anything else as the Lord is the priority. This is a challenge for me because I think of my mortgage payment, food for my children, etc. as more of a priority than the Lord. While I am not currently in a position where I can't tithe AND pay my mortgage and for my family's food, it is nonetheless a challenge to refocus priorities.

My prayer: Thank for how you provide. I have NEVER been in want and I know it is because of how You provide. You are more than generous. Forgive me when I don't think of you first, particularly with respect to money and tithing. Help me focus on you first, in everything, including tithing.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

 Malachi 3:10-12

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:10-12

I return to my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books. This morning my focus is an unassisted review of Malachi 3:10-12.  In these two verses, God makes a promise to Israel that He will bless the nation beyond the point where it will no longer have any needs that are not met - see v10 "until there is no more need."  A need is defined as "a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful...a condition requiring relief, [or as the] lack of the means of subsistence."  This promise is of course conditional on the people giving to God their tithe (see text that mentions tithe in the ESV Bible translation, including Leviticus 27:32 which specifically refers to 10%).  Another promise God makes is that Israel will be a land of delight.  For believers today who are under grace vs under the law, there is no longer a requirement for a tithe as believers give what is referred to instead as an offering - see this helpful resource.  We should give freely at least a tithe (10%) as an expression of our love for Christ who gave His life for us.  Believers should also understand that God is the source and provides for all of our needs and whatever we have it belongs to God - this includes our own body.  Everything we have - our lives and our belongings should be used in the service of the Lord, to fulfill His mission, including the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).  We should trust in how God provides.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who provides for all of my needs and never leaves or forsakes me - thank You!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor how You provide. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Leviticus 27

A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. v30

The chapter of Leviticus closes with a command on tithing.

We are to tithe for a variety of reasons, and I believe a few of the most important reasons include one practical and two spiritual and these are not listed in order of importance:

1. Because God commands us to
2. Because we must care for the church and for those who are in need (and the church does this on our behalf); tithing should not limit our giving as cheerful givers we should give more than a tithe.
3. Because as cheerful givers we must recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17) and we are simply stewards of the treasure provides for us - it does not belong to us and we must allow it to flow from our hands to God and for those in His care 

Lord - please help me be a cheerful giver.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You provide abundantly for all of my needs.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such provision.  I am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

 Malachi 3:10-12

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:10-12

I return to my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books. This morning my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Malachi 3:10-12. 

Excerpts from the commentary for the following two divisions and for the conclusion to the commentary's chapter covering Malachi 3:6-12:

• God’s Challenge for Israel to Test His Immeasurable Generosity (Malachi 3:10-11): The text includes "the only time in the Bible where God actually permits one to test Him in the area of finances....The temple’s storehouse was made up of numerous rooms that contained grain, oil, and various other supplies for the well being of the priests. It was the requirement of God that the people give money and supplies for the preservation of the Levites. God, who knows intimately the hearts of men, anticipated His people saying, “We can’t give ten percent.” So God said, 'Test Me.' They thought, 'We can’t afford to give.' God corrects them, 'No, you can’t afford not to give. Test Me.'...God appears to be saying, 'No matter what happens to you, when you are financially faithful to Me, I will provide for you. I will protect you.'"  
  
• God’s Blessing upon Israel Will Result in a Good Reputation among the Nations (Malachi 3:12):  God promises to make Israel (and His people) a great nation.
  
• Conclusion: Two lessons: (1) "if we obey the mandates of God in humble and faithful service, we can expect reward. This does not mean that reward is immediate, or even that we will ever receive it on this side of heaven. But we are guaranteed to experience God’s blessing, either here or in the coming kingdom"; (2) "what defines us is not what we have or what we think we have earned. Rather, it is what we do with the resources God has provided....God is always faithful to His covenant, even when the people are not. Israel would fail again, but in Christ we see the One who gave generously of Himself, even unto death, out of obedience to His Father. And in His sacrifice He also became the generous outpouring of heavenly blessing that God bestowed on all people."

I recommend a listen to this session of Ask Pastor John on DesiringGod.com where John Piper nets it out for believers seeking an answer to whether believers - based on the New Testament - are commanded to tithe. The answer is no but at the same time, those who truly love God as their highest treasure should think to themselves "why would we give anything less than a tithe (10 percent)?"

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me...blessing me beyond what I ever imagined You could provide...and Your fountain of grace never stops flowing.  I am not deserving of course.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Prosperity Through Service and Love of Lord

2 Chronicles Chp 31

I often think of my own prosperity and comfort as I am fully aware of the financial blessings God has provided and entrusted to me.  Yet I need to remind myself of the purpose of prosperity - it is not my own comfort; instead it is for God's glory.

⁵ As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. ⁶ The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them in heaps.

...

“Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the LORD has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.” 

...

²⁰ This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. ²¹

In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. 

I must think not of my own comfort but of God first and His glory.

My Prayer: Lord, you are great and your love of me and of all your children is great - love abounds.  I am amazed at how you have blessed me beyond imagination - all through your grace and love as I am not deserving.  This is your fruit alone!  When I think of my own comfort and of my own blessings forgive me and help me understand that I am a steward of the blessings you have provided in your trust of me.  Help me glorify you with how I use these blessings and to give generously and wholeheartedly to you - according to your will and for your glory.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

Malachi 3:6-10a

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Malachi 3:10a

I return to my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books.  While yesterday my study included a commentary assisted overview of the book of Malachi and an unassisted review of Malachi 3:6-10a, today my study is a commentary-assisted review of Malachi 3:6-10a.  This commentary for this text is includes the following excerpts:

1. Main idea and introduction to the text: "God’s commitment to His covenant trumps Israel’s rebellious history, holding out repentance to Israel and lavishing blessing on both Israel and the nations. Even though the people have fluctuated in their affections and devotion to God, He has not changed, which, as we will see, is the very foundation of His promise of restoration."
2. Division #1 - Malachi 3:6: The text begins with God's promise of mercy for Israel based on a promise He made to Jacob in Genesis 32:28.  God keeps His promises. The commentary shares: "Most of the time, when the Israelites are referred to as the children of Jacob, it’s a rebuke for their disobedience. It’s a reference to the name of their forefather before the divine blessing was bestowed. Yet, even though they were faithless, God would remain faithful to them, as He was to their father, Jacob. Their rebellion has led them far from God, but restoration is still possible if they desire change."  We are are challenged today with the same promise - repent and return to God and He will return to You (see v7).   
   
3. Division #2 - Malachi 3:7-10a: True repentance and reconciliation with God focuses on humility, where the commentary shares how Israel was challenging God by asking God how to return to Him, thinking they were already living as God intended.  God disputes this and offers a sharp rebuke - the commentary calls the dialogue here not one of "clarification" but one of "disputation."  We should not be so arrogant to argue with God believing His judgement is wrong.  Instead we should seek clarification about why and how we can live as He desires us to. We exist to glorify God.  God's rebuke focused on how the Israelites were not tithing to God - v8 - calling them robbers.  Our possessions come from God and belong to Him.  We should give back to God what is His in obedience to His commands - see also 2 Corinthians 8-9.  In response to those who claim that we are no longer under the law but under grace, the commentary shares that "grace never expects less;it always demands more...We should not give to God because we are under obligation to tithe, we should give because He has already given us the inexpressible gift of His Son Jesus Christ."  See also Luke 18-19. "Malachi is not necessarily calling out those who have been faithfully giving, asking them to give more; Malachi is calling out those who gave nothing. He is calling out those who haphazardly gave. He is calling out those who are giving without worshiping. God doesn’t need your money. He wants your heart. He wants you to understand that a closed hand is unable to receive a blessing. With a generous, open hand, you are opening yourself up to receive God’s blessings. With a rebellious, closed hand, you are hindering your ability to receive God’s blessings."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Father God Jesus for Your grace and mercy and how You keep Your promises despite how I often fall down.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

Malachi 3:6-10a

But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Malachi 3:8-10a

I return to my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books.  Given a long pause of my study in Malachi, I first review the commentary's introduction for this book and then read Malachi 3:6-10a which cover the first two divisions per the commentary for the text 3:6-12. Here are a few key excerpts from the commentary's introduction for Malachi:

• "Throughout Malachi we will see how God, as a loving Father, confronts, corrects, and challenges the people of Israel about straying from Him. No one is excluded."
• "Malachi is a call for Israel to return to God before the Messiah comes to earth, for it was written to a people who lived in expectation of Him, but who had not yet seen Him."
• To understand the audience for this book, "we can assume that the nation of Israel has returned from the Babylonian captivity by the time of this book’s writing. By addressing the book “to Israel” rather than “to Israel and Judah,” he is stating that there are no longer two separate kingdoms and that they have returned to their unified state."
• "As will be demonstrated, moral degradation was at an all-time high, with adultery, divorce, falsehood, fraud, and sorcery running rampant throughout the city; the source of much of the corruption was the priests themselves."
• "Malachi, like the prophets before him, looks forward to the Messiah’s coming. He prophesies about the forerunner of the Messiah, John the Baptist, who will prepare the way for Jesus. In the same passage, he also predicts the coming of the Lord Christ Himself[.]
• "The prophecies and warnings that will be exposited in this book bear a special weight also because Malachi is the final canonical work of the OT before the coming of Christ. A 400-year silence from God will be broken by Gabriel’s prediction of John’s and Jesus’ birth in Luke[.]" 

Vv3:6-10a contains both an encouragement and a rebuke from God.  V6 shares an attribute of God and how He does not change - He is our Rock - and how this will save Israel from destruction despite their disobedience and sin.  The verse shares how the children of Jacob are not consumed - this is of course good news for Israel because God made promises to make Israel a great nation through Abraham, Jacob, David, and others (including Jeremiah) and when God makes promises He does not change His mind.  Incredible promises by God are made throughout scripture and believers can take comfort in knowing that all of God's promises find their "Yes" in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 1:20).  The text continues in v7 with God going back and forth with Israel in dialogue exploring how Israel can "get right" with God.  God shares how Israel can "return to [God]" which will in turn result in God returning to Israel.  This same reconciliation applies to everyone (since the Fall, all of humanity is broken and sinful - see Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and it requires confession of sin, request of forgiveness and belief and faith in Jesus as Savior (see Romans 10:10).  In v8, God then shares a response with Israel how they can return to Him by refraining from the sin of which they are guilty (one sin of many - God using His discretion to emphasize what He feels needs calling out).  Israel was not giving to God their tithes and God refers to this as "robbing" Him.  This of course is not just a sin of Israel, but of believers today who do not appropriately tithe.  This is a sensitive topic for most but an important one - see also Matthew 6:21.  Important words from God today!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are a God that makes promises that always come to pass!  Thank You for the incredible promises You make and how I can have peace that they always come to pass.  I am not deserving of the promises of salvation and blessing You make to me as well as other promises.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

Tithes...and Your Blessings Have a God Given Purpose

Today's Reading
Deuteronomy Chp 14

As Moses continues to instruct the Israelites in the ways of the Lord, he reminds them of the command to tithe:

²² Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.

Moses also reminds us that our tithes have a God-given purpose:

²³ Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.

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26Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.

...

²⁷ And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.

...

²⁸ At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, ²⁹ so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

God wants us to use our blessings for his glory and his purpose. I need to remind myself that my blessings are not my blessings; they come from the Lord and I need to use them for His will and glory.

My Prayer: Lord, I have experienced difficult times and I have seen you provide and you provide abundantly. You know my needs more than I do and I need to fall to my knees to acknowledge that your will and desire, and your plans for me are more important than my own. I must come to the realization that I desperately need you and I thank you for how you are working on my heart. Forgive me for my sinful acts and desires, whatever they may because they are numerous. Purify me and draw me nearer to you. Help me develop a deeper desire for you. Use me and the church and the event tomorrow to reach the men in the community of SB.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Malachi 3

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. v10

I withhold my time, my talent, and my treasure thinking I am saving something for myself.  When instead, God says that I will blessed the MORE I give. 

I have previously read here how generosity begets blessings not just for the recipient but also for the giver.  I have also read about how I am to be a cheerful giver...that I should be cheerful for what is happening within me as a result of my giving.

My Prayer: Lord, You gave it all - the ultimate sacrifice...not just for me, but for all mankind.  And You continue to give...every day and in all ways.  How great You are Jesus!  You don't need me yet You love me.  You love me despite my sin.  I am lazy and harsh with my words.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me be the man You intend me to be.  Please help me so that Your desires are my desires.  Help me have a bold and daring faith.

He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.

Deuteronomy 26

He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. v9-10

Giving back to God is critical - see other posts on this topic. 

We cannot claim that whatever wealth we enjoy is ours - wrong!  We are custodians of God's wealth and it belongs to Him for us to invest on His behalf.  When He asks us to tithe we give back to God what is His.  We demonstrate humility and dependence on God for our daily bread.

We should not worry about money - God tells us not to worry.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Matthew 6:26

In the same chapter in Matthew, Jesus also teaches us that money can become an idol - yet another reason why giving back to God helps us focus on God and not money.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

Lord Jesus, please help me be obedient with my tithe and to be a cheerful giver.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth the love and compassion You pour out for me.  I continue to lust in my heart - please forgive me!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.

Deuteronomy 14

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. v22

God requires us to tithe - it is a reminder that all of our blessings come from God and that we are to trust God to provide for us.

We must also care for our church leadership - who is referred to by Moses in v27.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17

Lord Jesus help me tithe so I have a reminder of how You are the source of all blessings and only You provide, that I must trust in You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet my sin continues - I am harsh with my words. Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!

Hebrews 7

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! Hebrews 7:4

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, my focus is on Hebrews 7:1-10, as I lean on my commentary, and how it unpacks the first division "Melchizedek and Abraham," which refers to Hebrews 7:1-4. The commentary for this text focuses on how we should understand a little known character - Melchizedek - from the Bible, so we can better understand Jesus, as Jesus is compared to Melchizedek.  Melchizedek is first described as both king and priest: "[o]utside of Jesus and Melchizedek, Scripture identifies no one as both a king and priest. In fact, Israel markedly differentiated the roles of king and priest. No priest in the Old Testament could lawfully act as a king, and no king in the Old Testament could lawfully act as a priest."  The commentary refers to Isaiah 6:1 and 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 where "King Uzziah died in disrepute because he defied God’s law by acting as a priest."  Next, Melchizedek is described as a priest of the Most High God: "[s]hockingly, he is even from outside the tribe of Israel. This is an interesting character indeed." The interaction between Abraham and Melchizedek is then explored and the commentary shares that "the fact that Melchizedek blesses Abraham, the head of the old covenant, is astounding....Genesis 14 and the author of Hebrews show Melchizedek, a non-Israelite king, as a superior blessing an “inferior”...The situation presents Melchizedek, as the one doing the blessing, as the greater of the two figures."  We are then reminded by the commentary that Melchizedek's priesthood is not due to familial descent but to divine ordination, unlike the Levitcal priesthood.  Finally, the commentary wraps for this text by sharing how Melchizedek is described by the author of Hebrews as superior to Abraham - the great patriarch - given how Melchizedek blesses Abraham and is given a tithe by Abraham. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You reign forever!  Thank You God that You are a Great High Priest and that You intercede on my behalf to the Father.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

Romans 15

For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. Romans 15:27

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter nineteen Great Commission Christians, which covers Romans 15:14-15:33.  My focus today is v15:25-27, which my commentary refers to under the heading "Support the Work of Mercy Ministry." Building on my post yesterday, Paul now specifically calls out financial or material support to missionaries and to church planting.  Paul's words imply an obligation or responsibility - as you share in the spiritual blessings (which we all do), we "ought" to share in the material blessings. For me, this underscores the command to "tithe" and to be a "cheerful giver". 

My commentary emphasizes how in these verses Paul went to great lengths go from Corinth to Jerusalem, then to Rome and on to Spain - a total of three thousand miles - to support church plants and missionaries. According to the commentary, he had collected aid from churches in Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:1-5, 2 Corinthians 8:1-24) and it is speculated that he was describing this aid to the Romans to "spur" their generosity.  The sense of family among believers is also emphasized as Gentiles are spurred to give to Jews (and vice-versa), it should be because of the bond among believers as brothers and sisters in Christ and how both are children of God - cutting across geographic, cultural, and ethnic lines. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided me with brothers and sisters in Christ who support and encourage me - thank You Jesus!  I feel sharpened by You through them!  Thank You!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin weighs heavy and I know You hate sin - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:12-21

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved on to chapter seven Christ's Triumph Over Sin and Death, which covers Romans 5:12-21.  My focus today is Romans 5:20-21 which my commentary refers to as The Conclusion: Christ Has Overcome!  In v20-21 we see Paul referencing v13 where he says "for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given." Indeed during Adam's time and before Moses the law had yet to be given in terms of the Ten Commandments and the various other moral and ceremonials laws passed on from God to Moses. Yet in Garden, God was clear by giving this command to Adam (Genesis 2:16-17): "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” So we have law at least to this extent at this point as well God's commands for offerings (i.e. tithe) in Genesis 4, as we see the word "sin" for the first time in scripture. In Genesis 4, we also see Cain's murder of Abel and God's disappointment and punishment, so we see law in action here as well.  Regardless Paul is accurate that even before the law existed in its more formal time via the giving of the law through Moses, law DID exist.  And Paul is accurate again when he says that WHEN the law was given through Moses, sin and "trespass" increased in direct relation to the law....more laws, more sin.  Finally, Paul is accurate when he says that God's grace "abounded all the more" when sin increased as when Christ died for our sins, there is certainly more sin to wash away and be forgiven through the grace granted to us when we confess our sins and believe in Jesus.  This latter point is important for us to recognize as we SHOULD feel more sinful than Adam to the extent that more sin exists for us and God wipes all of this sin away and so much more through grace - not through anything we do making us deserving of such grace.

My commentary points us that Paul was perhaps addressing Jews by "jumping from Adam to Jesus" and skipping over Israel and its history and saying that "the law" did not help the Jews because it only magnified sin, it certainly did not increase obedience - only Jesus does this! Further with Adam "sin rules us....but [i]n Christ grace reigns over us." We are encouraged to fully appreciate the extent of our sin as we "are more sinful than you ever dared believe.  To forget this leads to license and permissiveness--to what we might call liberalism." Similarly, we are encouraged to fully appreciate how we "are more accepted in Christ than you ever dared hope."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your grace abounds in measures I cannot fathom nor will I ever fathom in this life - thank You Jesus for the grace You have already poured out for me and will continue to pour out for me!  I am completely undeserving.  I sin daily with worry, anger, and other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please provide wisdom and energy to Lisa and myself.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Am I Compassionate Enough?

Today's Reading
Deuteronomy Chp 15

While I am clear that God calls us to tithe, and to be good stewards of the blessings God provides for us, I am constantly challenged to consider whether my current lifestyle (which I believe is not high on the hog but is certainly very comfortable) should change to allow for a greater degree of giving.

⁷ If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. ⁸ Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. ⁹ Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. ¹⁰ Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

I am particularly struck by how God considers it sinful if I have any ill will toward my needy brother.

My Prayer: Lord I know you have blessed me beyond my needs - I am thankful for your provision and I seek your wisdom for how best to be a good steward of these blessings. Forgive me if I have any ill will toward my needy brother and help me reach out and love my needy brother.

[E]veryone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.

Exodus 35

[E]veryone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. v21

God wants us to be a cheerful giver - He commands us to tithe, yet we are to be cheerful as we do it because God is concerned about our heart condition not just our actions.  Note how in this chapter of Exodus it is stressed:

"All who were willing" v22
"All the Israelite men and women who were willing" v29

In the Old Testament, "freewill offering" is mentioned 22 times.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

It is the same thing in our relationship with Jesus: we are invited into a relationship with Him but we must accept this invitation and then submit to Him, in the same way He willingly laid down His life for us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who willingly laid down Your life for me so that I would have victory over sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I am selfish and I have other sin that continues.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.