Truth will always be truth. The truth is that all religious leaders have been buried and we know where their bones are except for one leader and that leader is Jesus. No one knows where the bones of Jesus are buried because He’s still alive! We should seek areas of our life where we fall short and study the principles He has given us to live by. We can neutralize negative habits and push for ones that set us free. Here’s a video to help inspire following the Truth: Solid As The Rock – Avalon.
In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. – Psalms 41:12
God’s thoughts and ways are so much above ours that we have a hard time believing that He wants what is best for us. There are difficulties we face in life, trials we go through, and it seems God is distant but He’s closer than we think.
In today’s passage Zechariah 8, God had been displeased with His people (v. 10-11). When He was displeased, the economy was a mess and every neighbor was against one another. But then there is this verse in Zechariah 8:15 “so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.” The passage goes on to say that God requires certain actions like being faithful and honest; for His truths to rule in their thoughts and His peace rule in their hearts. A lesson we can certainly apply in current times.
Today, we can look forward to being living epistles of Christ. We can influence many people by being honest with ourselves and not hiding personal weaknesses but making known the power of God. We can make known to people that He is ready to pour out His blessings with expressions of love. His presence will bring the blessings of peace, joy, and salvation. God always does what he says so we should always do what we say.
Today, I’m praying that things I do in life are anchored to the solid truths of God’s Word.
This past weekend’s message atFirst United Methodist Church Wacowas titled “The Devine Dare”. God dares us to be generous and giving to the church is meant to be a celebration of what God has blessed us with. We should make giving, serving, and worshiping God a joyous experience by following what He says to do and watching what we make happen to change the world.
Below is an outline of the message. The words in black are notes provided by the church staff and the notes in blue are notes I added as I listened to thePodcast.
1. DARING GENEROSITY. “ ‘Should a person rob God’? But you are robbing Me. You ask, ‘How have we robbed You?’ ‘You have robbed Me in your offerings and the tenth of your crops… Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in My house. Test Me in this,’ says the Lord All Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.’ ” – Malachi 3:8-10a (NCV)
God dares us to be generous and He promises to bless us.
2. TITHING GENEROSITY. “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.” – Numbers 18:21 (NIV)
“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling of His Name so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.” – Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (NIV)
“Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.” – Deuteronomy 14:26 (NIV)
Tithing is meant to be a celebration of what God has blessed us with. How do you make giving, serving, and worshiping God into a joyous thing?
“…and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” – Deuteronomy 14:29b (NIV)
Follow what God says to do and watch how He blesses.
3. FIRST FRUITS GENEROSITY. “Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.” – Exodus 23:19 (NIV)
“Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation… and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that You, LORD have given me.’ Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before Him. Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.” – Deuteronomy 26:5-7(NIV)
Paul said Jesus is the first fruits of God’s best crop. He planted His Son; the seed had to die to live and that seed came out of the ground called the resurrection.
Give God your best not your leftovers.
4. HARVESTING GENEROSITY. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.” – Leviticus 19:9 (NIV)
5. OFFERING GENEROSITY. “These, then, are the regulations for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering and the fellowship offering.” – Leviticus 7:37 (NIV)
6. SABBATH GENEROSITY.
Giving to the church results in people being changed, kids being blessed, college students in a new place; you will see what you make happen to bless our world. I found this video that brings out some of the main points in the message and I hope it will inspire your day as much as it has mine:When Love Sees You – Mac Powell. God Bless 🙂
Reflecting upon Zechariah 7, our gratitude for God’s love might be to find what it is that we can do to help others and take every opportunity to make it happen. Only a few may read the Bible day after day but many read our actions.
Here’s an old video about an idea a church came up with and carried out around 2007. Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo Texas gave away $100K to members to help others in the community: Generosity Revolution.
In my journey through Zechariah 7, I have learned that the outward signs of goodness are not keeping the formalities in religion like showing up to church or being a part of a certain group but in how each day is lived. Is there honesty in our dealings? Are we reliable and upright? Do we treat people with respect? Are we concerned about our neighbor; the widow or fatherless, those going through difficulty or sickness, and those who can’t support themselves? Are we generous in sharing with others and hoping good things happen to others because we see our neighbor as a member of our team?
God’s way is a meaningful contribution or service given to others. When there is a relationship between prayer and duty. The Word is consulted along with learning from those who explain, write, or teach it along with seeking direction from God through prayer. The proper steps are taken to developing a good plan that is dutifully carried out and success is the result. It is the result not only in the individual’s life but also in the lives of those with whom they consider a part of their team.
We don’t go to worship simply to look good outwardly but to honor God and spend some time with Him with the hope of receiving a message that inspires good in our actions and motivates us to share with others so all can benefit from His blessings.
Our gratitude for God’s love might be to find what it is that we can do to help others and take every opportunity to make it happen. Only a few may read the Bible day after day but many read our actions. Pastor Steve at my church said once that a church in motion is a place of infinite challenge, intense fellowship, passionate prayer, and strong outreach.
This day with God will be amazing because it is what we make happen for others that will be given back to us. Today I’m praying that we give a smile and that a smile is given back. That we act kind and kindness is given back to us from others.
