Each day I ask you this question when you read the Word of God: “What is the Lord saying to you? Or, how would you apply it to your life?” This morning I read this vow that Jacob made to the Lord in Genesis 28:20-22, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
On September 27, 1980, I made a promise to my bride, Wendy. I have not been the perfect husband, but I have honored my promise and been faithful to her. Jacob is making a promise to God. As God is faithful to him, and the Lord watches over him, Jacob will follow the Lord all of his days and will be sure to express his gratitude by giving a tenth back to the Lord for his kingdom purposes. The principle of the tenth (or the tithe) runs through the whole scriptures. There is a sense of commitment behind it and gratitude. When you release a tenth of your income to the Lord’s work, you are showing that he is #1 in your life and that all that you have is his. You become a participant in what God wants to do at New Harvest, in Salem/Keizer, and throughout the world as you give generously. God’s people have been marvelous examples to the world during the hardest economic times by continuing to give generously to God’s work. I know the Lord is going to take care of me, and I am assured of it through his promises. How ‘bout you? Won’t you continue to trust God by releasing a tenth of all that you receive from him for his kingdom work?!
Something is stirring in my heart about Sunday. I believe there is an exciting message from God for us as a church found in Acts 23. Also the music that is being prepared for worship gives me a sense of anticipation for the opportunity to worship God and be together as his people.
