Giving Tithe 09.30.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we will study the book of Malachi, please read Chapters 1-4 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. You can also cut & paste this link to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201-4&version=9

The book of Malachi is the 39th and final book of the Old Testament and contains 4 chapters. The author of the book is Malachi and it was written to the nation of Israel. The purpose of the book was to call the nation to repentance and return to righteousness. What we are to learn from the book is that repentance of sins plus returning to God equals restortion. Both are necessary in order to be forgiven and restoring a right relationship with God.

The first generations that returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel to rebuild the Temple were no longer alive and the generations that followed had once again lost sight of God and their purpose for Him. The people were confused and did not understand God's plan, but Malachi declared God may not always be fully understood, but He is only questioned by those who reject or neglet His Word. "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart." (Malachi 2:1-2).

God pronounced His judgement upon them."And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (3:5). Anyone who believes that they can gain guidance or information about the future through sorcery, which includes communication with the dead, fortune tellers, and astrologers is being misled. This is evil and deceiving.

Malachi then declared that the Israelites were thieves who rob God, "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." (3:8-9). The people were cursed with a curse because the tithes belonged to God for the spiritual needs of the people and the support of the priesthood, they had ignored the command to honor the LORD.

Giving one tenth of our income to God expresses our faith in Him and shows God that we acknowledge Him as the source. Tithing expresses our love and graditude toward Him and shows God that we are thankful for the financial blessings that we received. "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (II Corinthians 9:6-7).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the Messenger of the Covenant, (Malachi 3:1). Jesus in the new Covenant, "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
We will never fully comprehend the depth of Your sacrificial death where we see man at his worst and God at His best. In my place You took my guilt and shame as You became the guilt offering pouring out Your life unto death and taking on my iniquity. You gave all so that I could be forgiven. Though my sins were as scarlet they were washed white as snow, cleansed by the saving blood of the sinless Lamb. You turned my hopeless condition into a life full of hope for this life and glorious anticipation for eternal life beyond the grave. Nothing in all of history will ever compare to the Divine Exchange where my sins were exchanged for Your pardon. I walk in newness of life and in the power of the resurrected Savior. Praise Your name, Lord Jesus! In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a great and mighty day!
God Bless,
Christina

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