S. O. A. P.

Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!

S-cripture:

Genesis 14:20

“And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

O-bservation:

These are the words of Melchizedek, the high priest of what was to be known in history as Jerusalem. Abram and his men had put down an attack directed at the man of God, who was the spiritual leader of Jerusalem. When the victory was accomplished, Melchizedek came out and blessed Abram and praised the God he served. When he finished, this passage tells us that Abram gave the man of God a tenth of everything he had. This passage initiated the first fruit principle of tithing in the Jewish faith. When Jesus ascended into heaven, and the Holy Spirit was poured out, the Early Church took it a step further by combining their weekly family incomes into a pot of sorts and dividing it up amongst themselves to meet all of the Church families’ needs.

A-pplication:

I don’t know how to say it, but giving to the Lord through the centuries eventually became emotional or pressured or for means of penance. In time, the idea of pooling everything into a pot and dividing things up was not reasonable to the Christian church people. Consequently, most evangelicalism has practiced the tithe like Abram (Abraham) instituted early in his spiritual journey. I can tell you that if you follow this principle, like my wife and I have for 48 years of marriage, God will bless you back in ways you cannot begin to fathom. So operate with this passion, “The First Tenth Belongs To God!”

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

As Robyn and I begin our 49th year together today, I ask that You would help us give more to Your work than ever before. May we always remember that “Generosity Is Our Privilege.” Amen