O: Moses was telling the Israelites that three times a year all of the men were to appear before God at the appointed place and offer a gift in proportion to the way the Lord had blessed them. In prior passages as Moses was instructing the Israelites about offerings, he was always very specific about what type of offering to bring (10% of their first harvest, finest oils and wines, the firstborn of their herds w/no flaws ect.). Here he instructs them to bring a gift and leaves it to them to decide what and how much (aside from instructing them not to come empty handed :). He tells them to give in proportion to the way God had blessed them.
A: God has blessed me in all areas of my life. He has truly given to me beyond what I could ever feel worthy of. It is easy to look for more in life and wonder what's next, how can I earn more, or get further ahead? I spend more time than I would like to admit pondering those questions, but when I read this it really drove home how much God has blessed me. Coming up with a gift to measure God's blessings would be challenging. I can give in measurable amounts of the monetary things He has blessed me with (like Moses was calling the Israelites to do), but it doesn't feel like enough. I want to go beyond that each day and seek ways to give of myself, and of the spiritual gifts God has blessed me with. He sent His only son to die that we would be forgiven. That alone is more blessing than anyone deserves. He did it because he Loves us.
P: God, thank you for all you have blessed me with. I pray that I can continue to grow spiritually and understand more about you and your love everyday. I want to share what you have given me with others so that they could come to the place I am at today. Living with the joy of your love overflowing in my heart is uplifting. Thank you God, and please continue to give me opportunities to share your Love with others. Help me to not be afraid, and please guide my words so that they will be to your glory. Amen
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Blessings
S: Deut. 16:17 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.
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7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.
ReplyDeleteThis verse reminded me of the legalistic past I have come from. I use to feel it was my job to be the Holy Spirit for those I loved. I thought I was doing the right thing for God. He has been good enough to teach me much about His grace. I once heard the better we understand the grace that has been extended to us the better we will be able to extend it to others.
Thank you Annie for what reminding me its about Blessings. I want to be a blessing to others. Not throw the first rock. I am still a work in process.
Lord, please help me remember where you have brought me from! Help me to love those that don't even know you yet. Help me to have a healthy reverence for you without compromise.
Help me remember the love sacrifice you made for me.
Tina
A,
ReplyDeleteI liked how you mentioned giving via the spiritual gifts God has given you.
~C
Good word for us all, Annie. I look forward to your taking the 301 class - Discovering your Ministry (Spiritual Gifts) - and seeing how God uses you and Josh in Mountain Ridge in the years to come.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this idea today, too. For all that God has done for me, what could I possibly give in return? The only answer that even seemed remotely adequate was the gift of my life. Christ gave his life for us, and he deserves my life in return--a life of humble service and wholehearted devotion to him. A noble idea, but often hard to put into practice. But God has equipped us with the spiritual gifts we need to serve him in each of our lives. Thanks for the reminder :)
ReplyDeleteFor me today was also about remembering that my life is in Jesus and for Jesus. I chose Gal 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
ReplyDeleteIn this verse is so clear: "I no longer live". My life is not about myself anymore, It should be about my loving father who gave His son to rescue me!
Therefore if I'm living for my God, What should I be doing at this moment? Surely not pampering myself but working for his kingdom and obeying his commands and promptings.
I had the same verse as Nad today from Gal 2:20. I have been challenged today to 'live by faith in the son of God.'
ReplyDeleteThinking about the centurian from Sunday's message I want to be a man under Christ's authority believing and doing just as he says. Which I think also means being faithful with my sp. gifts today too. (thanks Annie)
Please pray for our family as we have dinner this evening with a friend who we desire to experience Christ's love through us.
My verse today was also Gal 2:20 which caused me to think of Rom 12:1 ". . .to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God . . .". So my prayer today was "how can I be a living sacrifice today? Help me do it." My prayer yesterday had been "Father, help me today to be alert and to share Christ's love with people living in fear so they can be rescued from it." But, yesterday no-one crossed my path who I felt any leading to share with. Then today, just a few minutes ago my doorbell rang and it was a new neighbor from down the street who I had not met. He was needing information on roofing products he could use which would be acceptable to the Homeowners Association so I worked with him on that but then he began sharing with me the fears he has for his 17 year old son who he had difficulty disciplining. We visited at some length and God gave me opportunity to share Christ's love (the Gospel) with him. As he left I promised to pray for him and his son and he seemed pleased. We will have further opportunity to develop a relationship and I pray for his salvation. I am blown away at how specifically God answered my prayer which challenges me to pray more and more specifically.
ReplyDeleteWow Wayne, how cool. I will keep your neighbor and his son in my prayers as well.
ReplyDelete