Sports, Games, or Movies

O. T. #213  "Sports, Games, or Movies"
Jan. 23, 2014
Exodus 23-Part 4
Three times a year the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord.  Exodus 23:17

LET IT GLOW

As a woman, I like to get together with my girlfriends and share, talk, laugh, cry. Of course, that's what we do best, right? Aren't men the same way? Oh, they may have a gathering on the lake fishing in a boat, in the woods hunting, on the golf course, or in the man cave, but they are conversing, don't kid yourself. Whether it is sports, games, or movies, they share their feelings with each other in the course of things. God wants us to converse with Him. He set aside three times for men to do this. Shall we take a closer look?

Friends, here we are, continuing with the laws which God gave Moses to convey to His chosen nation of Israel. Keep in mind, they are still in the desert, camped around Mt. Sinai. I wonder if these laws were given ahead of time, for the time they would be in the Promised Land to implement them.
Anyway, after working hard in the fields, gathering the harvests, the men, only the men, were to take and give offerings to God, the One who made the crops grow, as a worshipful time.

In Malachi 3:8-10, God said, 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. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

How faithful are we to give our tithes and offerings to God? He is always faithful to us. What is the attitude we have about it? He hasn't failed me yet, dear one.

Paul told the Ephesians in 5:2, and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.

Does Jesus not deserve our all faithfulness?


LET IT GROW

Yesterday, we discussed the three festivals, which were celebrations, and a time when offerings were to be given to Israel's God. After harvest, only the men, were to take offerings to the Tabernacle, which was later located in Jerusalem, celebrate these three holidays-The Feast of the Unleavened bread, the Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering. At the beginning of the seventh month, trumpets sounded; on the tenth day was the solemn fast; on the fifteenth they began to dwell in booths.

What a good Master we serve, Who has made it our duty to rejoice before Him! Israel was not to come empty-handed; so we must not come to worship God empty-hearted. Our souls must be filled with holy desires toward God, and dedications of ourselves to Him, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.  (Matthew Henry)

Do I encourage my man to spend time with the Lord, with friends? Doesn't he need spiritual renewal, too?


LET IT GO

Set aside time each day to worship my Savior.

Put aside money for my tithes and offerings.

Offer myself to the Lord for His purposes and glory.