This Week's Readings:
Monday: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Tuesday: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Wednesday: Romans 10:8b-13
Thursday: Luke 4:1-4
Wednesday: Romans 10:8b-13
Thursday: Luke 4:1-4
Friday: Luke 4:5-13
1 When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket.
"8 ...So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders.
9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me."
Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.
Gratitude is a powerful thing.
To be truly thankful for what we have. To believe that it has come to us, unmerited, as the gift of a generous God.
These are the things that can give life meaning and joy.
But it can't be merely lip service, at least not according to scripture.
Often, we are wounded when others doubt our beliefs, or our intentions. But actions speak more powerfully than any words ever could. They reveal the real movements of our hearts.
So let's ask ourselves. Are we really grateful for the blessings that come from God?
Really?
Our checking accounts will tell the story.
What do we give? Not "how much." The number will be relative to each person's circumstance. But do we make giving, to someone, somewhere, a priority?
Is there some sense in which we regularly and clearly return a portion of the first and best that God has given us?
It's important. Try it. God gave us this instruction because it puts feet on our thoughts and feelings. And it changes the very core of who we are.
Grace & Peace,
Adam
Tomorrow: Psalm 91
1 comment:
ah yes the milk and honey scripture, glad i read the book. The text is very clear i describing that what is given must be returned and talks in material things. I submit to you that the text is also deeper in meaning that just material/financial feeding. I think the text is also saying that why we measure in material he is trying to draw an analogy of returning more.
While that is important what he is also saying is that when he feeds us and make us happy (material, financial, etc) we must return that favor 10 fold in making someone else happy. This to me is the essence of the message that his children and followers we must pay back by sharing his love and creating other disciples.
Obviously money and time is key to accomplishing that but above all, share yourself to him and of him with others. relate to people so they understand his power, grace and love he offers. In doing so we are adding another part to his body in honor of him.
Again, don't get me wrong we have very clear direction on sharing assets, but to me this scripture is much deeper than that and dares us to give more as his disciples to others in hopes of creating more. Share his fruit.
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