Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
I can’t wait for Thursday. I love Thanksgiving, the unpretentious holiday that is celebrated with family, food, and football. It is the most celebrated holiday in the United States. More people celebrate Thanksgiving than even Christmas. Personally, it’s my favorite holiday. I like that for a day out of the year we pause to give thanks to God for His goodness to us.
While it’s great that Americans take a day out of the year to be thankful, it seems as though as a culture we are becoming less thankful all of the time. You would think as the most blessed nation in the world every day would be thanksgiving. But it isn’t. We focus on what others have and we do not. We love to complain. We always want more.
As Christians we are commanded to be thankful. If anybody should be thankful it ought to be all of us who have received God’s abundant and eternal life. We can be thankful in all circumstances because we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28) God has us taken care of in this life and the life to come.
How can we as Christians be more thankful?
Minister to those who have less than we do.
Avoid grumbling and complaining.
Verbally express your thanksgiving through worship and prayer.
Live a joyful life.
I believe being thankful honors God and is a light of witness to our watching world. Live a life of thanksgiving this week and every week!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Melchizedek
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.
Hebrews 7:1, 2a
Money is an aspect of our lives that has a deep impact in almost every area of our lives. How we view and use money says a lot about who we are and what we value.
Giving money at church is an important part of the Christian life. Tithing is an act of worship. Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7 show that the principle of tithing (giving God 10% of your income) is a pre-Law principle of honoring God. God has used the tithe of His people throughout history to care for His house and build His kingdom.
In our personal lives of worship tithing allows us to honor God with more than words. Money is important to all of us. Giving our money to God shows how important our relationship with God is to us.
Tithing expresses our personal allegiance to God. We see this in Genesis 28. Here, God reveals himself to Jacob in a dream. In response, the patriarch vows, “the Lord shall be my God…and of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” For Jacob, the tithe became a natural expression of his decision to follow the God of His Fathers.
Tithing is also an expression of Thanksgiving. Tithing expresses overflowing gratitude towards God. It breaks free from guilt as the motivation for giving. Its ultimate focus is the condition of one’s heart toward God.
Let us search our heart and make a renewed commitment to God through our giving.
Hebrews 7:1, 2a
Money is an aspect of our lives that has a deep impact in almost every area of our lives. How we view and use money says a lot about who we are and what we value.
Giving money at church is an important part of the Christian life. Tithing is an act of worship. Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7 show that the principle of tithing (giving God 10% of your income) is a pre-Law principle of honoring God. God has used the tithe of His people throughout history to care for His house and build His kingdom.
In our personal lives of worship tithing allows us to honor God with more than words. Money is important to all of us. Giving our money to God shows how important our relationship with God is to us.
Tithing expresses our personal allegiance to God. We see this in Genesis 28. Here, God reveals himself to Jacob in a dream. In response, the patriarch vows, “the Lord shall be my God…and of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” For Jacob, the tithe became a natural expression of his decision to follow the God of His Fathers.
Tithing is also an expression of Thanksgiving. Tithing expresses overflowing gratitude towards God. It breaks free from guilt as the motivation for giving. Its ultimate focus is the condition of one’s heart toward God.
Let us search our heart and make a renewed commitment to God through our giving.
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