OT DAY 47 - Tithing Is Your Natural Instinct (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Today's Reading: Genesis 14:19-24

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

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To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

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Please click this link to read Genesis 14:19-24

English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 14&version=ESV

Chinese: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=創 世 記 14&version=CUV

Bible Study

     What would you do after you experience God's protection and power? I do not know. But, for Abram, his response is to give one tenth of everything to God, tithing. Was this his first tithing? 

Let's take a look at what Professor John Goldingay says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Goldingay) :

    

     The story of Abraham and Melchizedek suggests that tithing, like sacrifice, was a well-known practice before God said anything about it.  It was a natural instinct.  Abraham knew it, and Melchizedek knew it; he wasn't surprised when Abraham tithed what he had gained and gave it to Melchizedek.
     It was apparently Abraham's response to Melchizedek's being a priest, which was itself evidenced by his blessing Abraham.   

John Goldingay. Genesis for Everyone. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, p.165.

      Have you experienced God's protection and power? What is your natural instinct to give thanks to the Lord? 

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 up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: Tithing is your natural instinct 

    What I got from Jesus today is a confirmation and reminder that we all need to tithe if we say we are a Christian. Tithing is not something special for some devoted Christians. Tithing should be our natural instinct of thanksgiving because God bless and protect us just like how He blessed and protected Abram.

    General statistic shows that there is only 20% of Christians in a church tithe, the other 80% do not. Only those mature and fruitful churches have more than 20% of people who tithe. With the message of this passage, it shows only 20% of Christians in a church really experience God protection and power, the other 80% might take the church as a place of gathering or even a social club.

    Are you among those 20% who tithe or the 80% who do not? Can you help your church to breakthrough that 20% line so that your church can be a mature and fruitful church?
     

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for your word of confirmation today. Lead us to be willing to tithe as a natural instinct of our thanksgiving to you for your presence, blessing and protection.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

    Please click this link to the app. Andy Ng wrote. You really need to use that if you have an Android cel. Andy said he is going to do the App. for iPhone later:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideal.rec.app

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You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/

Rev. Nicky Gumbel's daily devotion: Bible in One Year

http://www.htb.org.uk/bioy