King David said in 2 Samuel 24:24, I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.
Malachi 1:14 says “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the LORD Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.
Do I serve the Lord as an obligation? Do I feel that the Lord and church owes me for my service to God and church? Do I see myself as immune to correction by elders since I am serving the various ministries of church?
On the other hand, does the church feel apprehensive to correcting our shortfalls just because we serve the church?
Paul says in Romans 12:2, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Again Paul says in Romans 11:35-36, who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!
King David understood the religious imperative of true sacrifice. For him, religion that cost nothing was worth nothing, either to God or humanity.
Heavenly Father, I pray that You enable me to serve You in love, humility and joy. Please help me die to myself daily and live for You alone. Please help me give You only glory in everything I do. Amen.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Give to God what is God's
In Luke 20:25, Jesus said give to God what is God's.
What is God's?
1. The highest heaven, earth and all in it belong to the Lord (Deut. 10:14)
2. For every living soul belongs to the Lord (Ezekiel 18:4)
3. The king of Israel answered, "Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours." (1 Kings 20:4)
4. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his command (Deut 26:18)
5. Set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corin 1:22)
6. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13)
7. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand (1 Chronicles 29:14)
8. Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8)
9. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
10. To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecclesiastes 2:26)
We are called to live as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). We are called to live as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9). We are called to live as aliens and strangers in this world (1 Peter 2:11).
God wants exclusive place in our heart, soul and mind! We need to check ourselves through the lens of the Holy Spirit for any compromises by way of secular behaviour and practices which are contradictory to God's calling.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you search me and help me live the life you have pre-destined for me and enable me to walk in your ways to give you glory. Amen.
What is God's?
1. The highest heaven, earth and all in it belong to the Lord (Deut. 10:14)
2. For every living soul belongs to the Lord (Ezekiel 18:4)
3. The king of Israel answered, "Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours." (1 Kings 20:4)
4. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his command (Deut 26:18)
5. Set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corin 1:22)
6. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13)
7. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand (1 Chronicles 29:14)
8. Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8)
9. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:19)
10. To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness (Ecclesiastes 2:26)
We are called to live as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). We are called to live as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9). We are called to live as aliens and strangers in this world (1 Peter 2:11).
God wants exclusive place in our heart, soul and mind! We need to check ourselves through the lens of the Holy Spirit for any compromises by way of secular behaviour and practices which are contradictory to God's calling.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you search me and help me live the life you have pre-destined for me and enable me to walk in your ways to give you glory. Amen.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Am I my brother's keeper?
In Genesis 4:9, when the Lord asked Cain where is his brother Abel, Cain’s reply was I don’t know, am I my brother’s keeper?
Jesus said in Matthew 22:38, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:14 says, The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
What is the meaning of my brother’s keeper? Being responsible for another human being, his actions, behavior, welfare and walk with God.
What are my responsibilities as my brother’s keeper? To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:12). To share the good news with the unbelievers. To offer intercessory prayer, extend help (financial or any other), to edify, to correct...
Am I required to be my brother’s keeper? Genesis 2:15 says, The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. We being descendants of Adam are made to be keepers of something or someone. In the family context, the husband or father is the keeper of his wife and children. In the material context, we are the keepers of the provisions God has entrusted to us as responsible stewards (Matthew 25: 29, For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance).
Paul says in Romans 14:12 that each of us will give an account of himself to God. Why should I than be my brother’s keeper? However, Paul also says that the body of Christ could not function properly if one part of the body is dysfunctional (Romans 12:5, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others). Again Paul says be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Romans 12:10).
I find being my brother’s keeper is an unpopular and depressing responsibility more so when you have a straight forward personality. Not many appreciate this role as they rather fall down to experience the pain themselves than preventing it. Throughout the bible history this has been the pattern where people refused to listen to God bringing upon them the wrath of God (Jeremiah 25:4-7 says,……. Unfortunately the people did not listen to God. They continued in their idolatry and brought harm to themselves).
The brother’s keeper has to be careful not to judge but at the same time correct his brother. This can only be done by the love of Christ that binds everyone together as one body.
As Paul says in Romans 12:9-21, 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you give me the grace and love to be my brother’s keeper and to continue to serve the body of Christ in love, peace and joy through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said in Matthew 22:38, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:14 says, The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
What is the meaning of my brother’s keeper? Being responsible for another human being, his actions, behavior, welfare and walk with God.
What are my responsibilities as my brother’s keeper? To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:12). To share the good news with the unbelievers. To offer intercessory prayer, extend help (financial or any other), to edify, to correct...
Am I required to be my brother’s keeper? Genesis 2:15 says, The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. We being descendants of Adam are made to be keepers of something or someone. In the family context, the husband or father is the keeper of his wife and children. In the material context, we are the keepers of the provisions God has entrusted to us as responsible stewards (Matthew 25: 29, For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance).
Paul says in Romans 14:12 that each of us will give an account of himself to God. Why should I than be my brother’s keeper? However, Paul also says that the body of Christ could not function properly if one part of the body is dysfunctional (Romans 12:5, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others). Again Paul says be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Romans 12:10).
I find being my brother’s keeper is an unpopular and depressing responsibility more so when you have a straight forward personality. Not many appreciate this role as they rather fall down to experience the pain themselves than preventing it. Throughout the bible history this has been the pattern where people refused to listen to God bringing upon them the wrath of God (Jeremiah 25:4-7 says,……. Unfortunately the people did not listen to God. They continued in their idolatry and brought harm to themselves).
The brother’s keeper has to be careful not to judge but at the same time correct his brother. This can only be done by the love of Christ that binds everyone together as one body.
As Paul says in Romans 12:9-21, 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you give me the grace and love to be my brother’s keeper and to continue to serve the body of Christ in love, peace and joy through the Holy Spirit.
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