Deuteronomy 14
You are children of the LORD your God. The LORD has blessed you! Remember that always!
There are a couple of really good themes in chapter 14. I bring to your attention verse 23 (NRSV): In the presence of the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose as a dwelling for his name, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
Here it is again, the mention of the dwelling for his name. And secondly, the regulation for the Israelites to bring their tithe to the temple so that they might eat of it and every third yeard they must store up enough to share with the Levites, the resident aliens, orphans and widows. They must help feed those who don't have the resources to feed themselves properly.
The reading today reminds me of food... and eating... and fellowship we enjoy together at Zion. Again, this Advent, we have been having soup suppers prior to Wednesday evening Worship. It is an opportunity for us to be able to visit with our neighbor (fellowship) at the dinner table and in doing so, hopefully, we glorify God's name. Each Wednesday, the supper is hosted usually by 2 or 3 persons from the congregation. There is no charge for this dinner - it is freely given and all are welcome: members, visitors, strangers.
Tomorrow, we have a council meeting at Zion. I noticed the president has on the agenda: fellowship/coffee hour. In recent months the council decided to suspend monthly coffee/fellowships because of other dinners/suppers at the church. I believe the president has in mind to reinstate them or at least some form of them so that we have a greater opportunity to welcome visitors following worship and to be able to spend more time with our neighbors, sharing our love of God, as children of God.
And... also on Wednesday, our ladies will meet to pack up cookies for shut-ins, and widows, as well as bachelors and others in the community. Then some of us will go out delivering the cookies as we spend some time visiting with our neighbors.
Gathering together in fellowship; "breaking bread" together; bringing gifts of food to our neighbors are ways in which that we can glorify God, glorify His name, by living like a children of God.
Yesterday, we had a baptism at Zion. The godmother received a lit candle for Xavier as I spoke to and prayed for the child, "Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:16) As children of the heavenly Father, we probably shouldn't worry so much about what we can't do, but what we can do to glorify His name. When we, as children of God, reach out in various ways, that light of Christ, reaches those who live in darkness, enlightening their lives and God's name is glorified.
Evangelism - sharing the good news and ultimately glorifying God's name - is not always about what we say - but - sometimes (often) it is about what we do. Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will feed His sheep. (John 21)
Questions for the morning: Does the way in which you live and serve others glorify God? Does your life style reveal a child of God? Does your light so shine before others, that others may see your good works and also glorify our Father in heaven?
You are children of the LORD your God. The LORD has blessed you! Remember that always!
There are a couple of really good themes in chapter 14. I bring to your attention verse 23 (NRSV): In the presence of the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose as a dwelling for his name, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
Here it is again, the mention of the dwelling for his name. And secondly, the regulation for the Israelites to bring their tithe to the temple so that they might eat of it and every third yeard they must store up enough to share with the Levites, the resident aliens, orphans and widows. They must help feed those who don't have the resources to feed themselves properly.
The reading today reminds me of food... and eating... and fellowship we enjoy together at Zion. Again, this Advent, we have been having soup suppers prior to Wednesday evening Worship. It is an opportunity for us to be able to visit with our neighbor (fellowship) at the dinner table and in doing so, hopefully, we glorify God's name. Each Wednesday, the supper is hosted usually by 2 or 3 persons from the congregation. There is no charge for this dinner - it is freely given and all are welcome: members, visitors, strangers.
Tomorrow, we have a council meeting at Zion. I noticed the president has on the agenda: fellowship/coffee hour. In recent months the council decided to suspend monthly coffee/fellowships because of other dinners/suppers at the church. I believe the president has in mind to reinstate them or at least some form of them so that we have a greater opportunity to welcome visitors following worship and to be able to spend more time with our neighbors, sharing our love of God, as children of God.
And... also on Wednesday, our ladies will meet to pack up cookies for shut-ins, and widows, as well as bachelors and others in the community. Then some of us will go out delivering the cookies as we spend some time visiting with our neighbors.
Gathering together in fellowship; "breaking bread" together; bringing gifts of food to our neighbors are ways in which that we can glorify God, glorify His name, by living like a children of God.
Yesterday, we had a baptism at Zion. The godmother received a lit candle for Xavier as I spoke to and prayed for the child, "Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:16) As children of the heavenly Father, we probably shouldn't worry so much about what we can't do, but what we can do to glorify His name. When we, as children of God, reach out in various ways, that light of Christ, reaches those who live in darkness, enlightening their lives and God's name is glorified.
Evangelism - sharing the good news and ultimately glorifying God's name - is not always about what we say - but - sometimes (often) it is about what we do. Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will feed His sheep. (John 21)
Questions for the morning: Does the way in which you live and serve others glorify God? Does your life style reveal a child of God? Does your light so shine before others, that others may see your good works and also glorify our Father in heaven?
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