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When someone asked Jesus how many times we should forgive people, he answered "70 tiems 7." That equals 490. (or so I'm taught by Veggie Tales and basic math. Though I'm hesitant to trust the latter.) Personaly, I think this is a metaphor for "as many times as needed." And I'll explain why.
The other night, on my way home from work I was feeling discouraged. I'm in school now, where I'm the only Christian in my class. Everyone else is either apathetic towards it, accepts it as a different philosophy (like my two best friends, Alyssa and Shane) or treat it with disdain. I'm working hard to keep my grades up, and forcing myself to continue at a job I dislike. And I'm at my wits end.
So, I turn on my radio, and go to 102.3 FM. This is my UCB frequency. USB Canada,Belleville. And, in the evenings, we have different pastors giving talks and sermons from around the continent. And I decided to listen. I can't remember the name of this pastor, but he has a very reassuring voice, and it;s like he's speaking directly with you.
He was reading from Niemiah, one of the minor prophets. That name has always bothered me. MINOR Prophet of God? Can you be that? I have to think being any kind of Prophet of God is a major thing, yes?
Anyways, this is just after the Israelites had been returned from one of their many captivities. The reason, I'm told by this pastor, that they had been in captivity to begin with was that they had disregarded the Sabbath, and disregarded the Year of Jubilee for 490 years (there's that number again). This forced God's hand. He had Israel taken into captivity for 70 years. And here is where my interest perked on this subject. 70 years is 490 years worth of sabbaths and year of jubilees.
Think about that for a second. God said "You've desecrated every single Sabbth for the last 490, and to make mattes worse, you've managed to ruin the last 70 Year of Jubilees. That's it, I've had done with you, off you go." And off he sent them into captivity until they'd paid back to God what is rightfuly his.
And this started me thinking. How often do I tithe? Hardly ever. How often do I give more than the requisite hour and half back to God every sunday? Never, that's for sure. And now, as I write this, I realize that, when I do tithe, my week always ends up better. I'm less stressed, things go well for me. Coincidence? I think not.
Let's think about this logicaly for a moment. Take what you make every pay. I get paid bi-weekly, and for me, I make 450 dollars before taxes. So let's make it an even 400 dollars. So, every two weeks, starting this pay, (which will be less than 400 dollars) I'm going to be giving 10% of whatI make back to God. He trusted me with the 400 dollars to begin with, so why shouldn't I trust hm to take 40 of it, and multiply it. Mybe not for my sake, or my families, but someone who needs it.
You see, my church supports around 15 or 20 different missionaires world wide. I know some of them personaly (Michael Murray, for example, is a wonderful teacher.) Perhaps this 40 dollars will help him reach the people of Tibet and wake them up for the Cult the Dahli Lama teaches. (Do not misunderstand me, he is a great, and peaceful man. But he's wrong....) Maybe it'll help a couple who just returned to Cambodia? Or maybe another who just returned to Kenya? Who knows. But I know that by blessing him, God will bless me.
Though...given the way I live my life, I fail to see that I deserve it. The Bible says the great will be made humble and the humble made great. But I feel that, even if I make myself humble, I wish not to be made great. To sit at the table with Jesus and the Lord of Hosts would....sully the table. Even though Jesus has made me white as snow by his blood, there should be, and I ask that there not be a place at that table for me.
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Posted by Daegen on 2008-09-30 19:04:13 | Rating: | Views: 56
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Hi Brother Bless you!
Pleasant surprise to see you writing and sharing your thoughts again
I truly believe that you and all us; The Lord’s children, will sup with Him on that wonderful day we meet our King
Thinking of you in prayer
Welcome back!
Agape
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Posted by Christianthoughts
on 2008-10-03 08:12:39
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