The Lord gives instructions for life and worship in the
Land. One of those instructions is that they are to do as Abel did, bring the
best of the firstfruits of the ground.
All these instructions for worship and sacrifice apply to blessings of
the Lord and are for thanksgiving. All
that we have and all that we are come from Him and He wants us to acknowledge
that reality. Why? Does He simply want to take credit for all things? No, He wants us to live dependent lives so
that we will continue to enjoy His blessings and presence among us. When we fail to live thankfully we fail to
consider Him and we put distance on the relationship, He becomes an
afterthought, someone with whom we share only our troubles and not our
joys. Moses reflected God’s glory
whenever He spent time with Him and the glory faded over time spent apart from
God. Has anyone noticed God’s glory on
your face lately?
Jesus raises the bar on sin impossibly high for us. He first says that if men look on women with
lustful intent they have committed the sin of adultery. He uses that term without respect to marriage
in that first injunction. Our culture is
not only obsessed with sex but also with sexiness. The point of much of women’s fashion is to
arouse lust. In the Muslim culture women
are forced to completely cover their bodies in order to avoid arousing lust. Would that be Jesus’ point here? No, but modesty should be part of a Christian
woman’s thought process for public dress.
Jesus clearly has very strong standards for divorce and there is little
reason to believe that has changed, as painful as that may be to some in a
culture of divorce. Regarding the taking
of oaths Jesus simply says you shouldn’t need to take oaths, your word should
be enough. In all these things we are
convicted of sin in our lives and yet nowhere does Jesus say these things are
unpardonable. His death atones for all
sin but we appreciate the sacrifice best if we recognize how great indeed is
our need of that sacrifice.
Paul has to remind the Thessalonians that he told them that
he and his team would suffer afflictions and ties it to his concern for the
faith of this church. Paul is greatly
encouraged by the report Timothy brings that they are standing firm in
faith. When we are blessed to know
someone coming to faith, it is indeed encouraging to know that they continue in
that walk. It is equally encouraging
when we are part of the discipling process and see others walk more deeply in
their faith and doing wonderful things for the kingdom. Joy for us should always be there when anyone
grows in faith and love, we are meant to encourage one another and be
encouraged by one another. Thankfulness
is only real when it is expressed as Paul does here.
Blest inhabitants of Zion,
washed in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
makes them kings and priests to God.
'Tis his love his people raises
over self to reign as kings:
and as priests, his solemn praises
each for a thank-offering brings.
washed in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
makes them kings and priests to God.
'Tis his love his people raises
over self to reign as kings:
and as priests, his solemn praises
each for a thank-offering brings.
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