(Deuteronomy 16:10-17) Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give just as the Lord your God blesses you; 11 and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
13 “You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat; 14 and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. 15 Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lordchooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
16 “Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you."
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we remember what God has done for us (16:12)
- that we remain obedient to the Lord our God (16:12)
- that we eat and rejoice in all aspects of life (12:7)
- that we as a group of believers rejoice and celebrate before the Lord our God (16:11, 13-14)
- that we give freewill offerings as the Lord our God blesses us (16:10, 17)
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You so much for everything You have done for us, for everything You do for us, and for everything You have given to us! Help us remember all that You have done - and help us to see that You are such a loving and generous provider.
Let us not only appreciate everything, but celebrate and rejoice in You, and really enjoy all the blessings that come from You - without guilt.
Help us to live in a way that shows our appreciation to You - living obediently, and giving tithes and extra gifts and offerings - just as people love to give gifts to their friends to show their appreciation. Thank You that You are a God of celebration and joy! Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment