March 15, 2006 - Deuteronomy 26-27 and Mark 14:27-53
It is obvious from reading this passage that the Lord does not want us to forget His blessings or His commands. However, He knows that we have a problem with being forgetful. Therefore, He has some built in safe guards against forgetfulness. How about you? How is your spiritual memory? Think about it as you read this passage.
In chapter 26 we read about the offering of the first fruits and about the tithe. Why did God tell them to give the first of the fruit of the land to Him? I believe He did not want them to get busy and forget that it all comes from Him. By taking the first fruit and offering it to the Lord they would be forced to focus on God as the Source of all. Also, they would not make the mistake of meaning to give to the Lord, but waiting too long. Some people give God the last part, instead of the first. When you do that, you are prone to run out before God gets His part. That is why He tells us to give Him the first of our income. Then, the tithe reminds us that God is the one who provides for us. It is all His, but He requires the ten percent for Himself. Therefore, when we give the tithe, we never forget God's blessing, and He is able to bless us even more.
Chapter 27 tells us about the great plan God had for Israel once they came into the Promised Land. They were to put six tribes on one mountain and six tribes on another mountain. Then, they were to repeat the blessings of God and the curses of God, so that no one would ever forget. Can you imagine that scene? One million people on one mountain speaking the blessings, and one million people on the other mountain speaking the curses. It would have been something no one would ever forget. God does not want us to forget Him and His commands.
Mark 14 tells us about the disciples on the night Judas betrayed Jesus. What did they do? They fell asleep three times. Why did they fall asleep? The flesh was weak. They could not remember to stay awake for even a short time. They did not fully understand what was happening even though Jesus had told them in advance. They forgot, because they could not understand. It doesn't matter why, but it does matter that they did not obey Jesus. Sometimes we forget to obey at crucial times, and we end up denying Jesus like Peter. We miss God's blessing, because we forget to do what He said. Let's ask Jesus to help us not to forget Him and His commands.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 28-29 and Mark 14:54-72.
In chapter 26 we read about the offering of the first fruits and about the tithe. Why did God tell them to give the first of the fruit of the land to Him? I believe He did not want them to get busy and forget that it all comes from Him. By taking the first fruit and offering it to the Lord they would be forced to focus on God as the Source of all. Also, they would not make the mistake of meaning to give to the Lord, but waiting too long. Some people give God the last part, instead of the first. When you do that, you are prone to run out before God gets His part. That is why He tells us to give Him the first of our income. Then, the tithe reminds us that God is the one who provides for us. It is all His, but He requires the ten percent for Himself. Therefore, when we give the tithe, we never forget God's blessing, and He is able to bless us even more.
Chapter 27 tells us about the great plan God had for Israel once they came into the Promised Land. They were to put six tribes on one mountain and six tribes on another mountain. Then, they were to repeat the blessings of God and the curses of God, so that no one would ever forget. Can you imagine that scene? One million people on one mountain speaking the blessings, and one million people on the other mountain speaking the curses. It would have been something no one would ever forget. God does not want us to forget Him and His commands.
Mark 14 tells us about the disciples on the night Judas betrayed Jesus. What did they do? They fell asleep three times. Why did they fall asleep? The flesh was weak. They could not remember to stay awake for even a short time. They did not fully understand what was happening even though Jesus had told them in advance. They forgot, because they could not understand. It doesn't matter why, but it does matter that they did not obey Jesus. Sometimes we forget to obey at crucial times, and we end up denying Jesus like Peter. We miss God's blessing, because we forget to do what He said. Let's ask Jesus to help us not to forget Him and His commands.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 28-29 and Mark 14:54-72.