God does not want our offerings until we enter into a loving, intimate and faithful relationship with Him!

 Please click this link for the video version of today's blog :

 https://youtu.be/5L4id0nJnQY?si=Q540xQHHP3tVSGgB 

 Key passages: 

      Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words."                Exodus 24:8

       The Lord said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give."      Exodus 25:1-2

      

The topic I received today from Jesus is: God does not want our offerings until we enter into a loving, intimate and faithful relationship with Him!

      Here in this chapter shows a marriage covenant between God and His people. God through Moses showed them the covenant to which they replied two times by saying, "Everything the Lord has said, we will do." 

        I have officiated many Marriage services and what I received is that there is no guarantee that both parties will live out the covenant. If that is a car lease, then you need to fulfill the contract's requirement but for wedding not so. As for the relationship with God, Moses took half of the blood in bowls and the other half sprinkled on the altar as a symbol of the blood of the covenant the Lord made with all people. 

      Do you understand that there is a blood covenant that God sacrificed His one and only begotten Son for us? We are in this kind of covenant with God and yet we always do not know. How are you willing to stay in God's marital covenant with you?

      We can see in the next chapter, chapter 25 about offering. Many people including Christians feel uneasy to make a significance offering. Many Christians do not think that they need to give one tenth(tithing) of what they have. How sad it is!

      God does not want Israelites' offering until they entered into a loving covenantal relationship with Him. Sometimes the first test for a newly wedded couple is how they are willing to share their money together. If you love someone, you would try all your best to show your love in all kinds of way. Making a significance offering to God is a test as to whether God is our true God or money is our god. After all, everything you have in this world you cannot hold when you leave this world. But the offerings you made to show how much you love God can build up the Church and can bring numerous souls to heaven. 

      

      Tithing of Christians should go to their own churches and then they can make offerings to support other ministries outside their churches. 

      God does not want our offerings until we enter into a loving, intimate and faithful relationship with Him. God gives us the honor and opportunity to make offerings. This is for His own glory and helps us to pass the test that money is not our God but God is our true God!

       Dear Lord Jesus,                                                                                                                                          Help us to fulfill our vow and live out the covenant to you. Change our lives that we love you more than money and everything or anyone.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Reflect on these questions:     

1. What inspiration have you received from today's catch and what have you heard from Jesus now?

      

    2.  What is your next step to be more closer to Jesus, to be holy - that is to do what Jesus wants you to do and not to do what Jesus wants you not to do?

    

    Family Corner:

   Find an opportunity to share with your family the importance of today's message. 

    

    Time with Abba (Psalm 21:1-7, Exodus 23:14-25:40; Matthew 24:29-51; Proverbs 7:24-27)

    Please click this link for today's Time with Abba one year Bible four passages: http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

     Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time to Jesus as you listen to Him.    

   For the Chinese version of this daily blog and video, please click this link (中文版請按此連結):

    https://timewithabbaprayinglisteningchinese.blogspot.com

     

     To know, learn and practice the method of Time with Abba, please click this link:http://twa.pastoralcareschool.org/

     If you would like to follow my "Subject shifting Devotion Method" from the "Time with Abba, Praising Singing", you are welcome to follow the direction below and then go back to the top of this blog to read today's key passage and my listening and sharing:

        Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

      2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace and feel His presence. Exhale your worries.

     Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Sing a song to praise the Lord

      

Confession and Repentance (Subjective Shifting Devotion Method) 

https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to shine on you that you are able to discover your sins and be willing to repent:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God and having Jesus as my Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sins to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gifts to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

3.  John Stott's daily prayer of Christlikeness (Christopher J.H. Wright, Cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2017, 13)

(Please click this link to see how God used John Stott to change my life:https://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/

           "Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

             Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

             Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

 My first blog "Devotion on Fire"  was written in English only  (July 17, 2009年7月17日至November 22, 2012年11月22日). Each day one chapter of Bible, from New Testament and then Old Testament. Completed in four months and three years:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/blessings-from-rev-dr-john-stott.html

My second blog "Discipler 123"  was written in both Chinese and English (March 6,2011to December 31, 2016 ):

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-1-choose-light-away-from-darkness.html

and "Time with Abba" blog and video (January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024): 

https://discipler123.blogspot.com/2017/01/1-2017.html