Daily Guide 2024

Scripture Union Daily Guide 19th February 2021 Today Message – Token Of Worship

Advertisements

Scripture Union Daily Guide 19th February 2021 Today Message – Token Of Worship

You are reading Scripture Union Daily Devotional for Today Friday 19th February 2021. May you be blessed as you read on.

TOPIC: TOKEN OF WORSHIP

OPENING PRAYER: Oh Lord, fill me with the power of the Holy Ghost as I study your word.

Deuteronomy 26:1-19
1When you have entered the land the Lordyour God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lordyour God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lordyour God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lordyour God that I have come to the land the Lordswore to our ancestors to give us.” 4The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the Lordyour God. 5Then you shall declare before the Lordyour God: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. 7Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lordheard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8So the Lordbrought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lordyour God and bow down before him. 11Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lordyour God has given to you and your household. 12When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 13Then say to the Lordyour God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. 14I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lordmy God; I have done everything you commanded me. 15Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.” 16The Lordyour God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17You have declared this day that the Lordis your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws?that you will listen to him. 18And the Lordhas declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. 19He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lordyour God, as he promised.

Question(s) for Reflection:
• Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
• Is there any command for me to obey?

OUTLINE: SCRIPTURE UNION DAILY GUIDE 19TH FEBRUARY 2021 TODAY MESSAGE

TOKEN OF WORSHIP
First fruit is a portion of our first harvest or income that we give to God as a token of worship and appreciation of His blessings (v.10). Observe the procedure (vs.2-4), and the reason for this offering (vs.5-9)? Like the Israelites, we were once in bondage to sin, but God in His infinite mercy saved us. So, we need to acknowledge Him with our lives and substance. (Eph. 1: 3 – 6; 1 Pet. 5: 9 – 10. Vs.12-15 is a repeat of Deuteronomy 14:28-29.

Apart from the first fruit, notice the demand in v.12 and to who they are to give this offering? It should be noted that though believers may not necessarily be under this law; tithe in particular preceded the law as Abraham gave his tithe to Melchizedek. This was after Moses and Nehemiah practised tithing. Also, God commanded it during the time of Malachi.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ did not forbid it, but only condemned the wrong attitude of those who depend on it for their salvation or justification before God (Gen. 14: 20; Neh. 10: 35 – 38; 12: 44; Mal. 3: 6 – 12; Matt. 23: 23; Luke 18: 9 – 14). But the New Testament reminds us not to forget the poor and missionaries like Paul. Why not consider designating a substantial portion of your annual giving to Christian organizations and missions and to relief the poor, orphans and widows? God loves a cheerful giver (vs.10-11; cf., 2 Corinthians 9:7).

Our giving must be done willingly, without grudge. Read vs.13-15 again. What does this suggest as to how we should approach God in prayers? When our obedience is complete (including giving our token of worship), we receive blessings in return. For further reading: See 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 and chapter 9 for the basic principles of giving in New Testament.

Practice/Word Application
• So what: You can make v.17 your pledge today and claim God’s declaration in vs.18 &19
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
• Help me, dear Lord, to live with the consciousness that all I have and am comes from you.
• Ask the Lord to go ahead of you into the coming week and make your way smooth and safe.

Offer a prayer of faith in line with Isaiah 61:3 – To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.

Bible Reading: Ex. 11-8; Mark 16

Thank you for reading Today’s Scripture Union Daily Guide 19th February 2021 Today Message – Token Of Worship. God bless you!

Scripture Union Daily Devotional 18th February 2021 – Working For Growth And Continuity Of The Church

Scripture Union Daily Guide 19th February 2021 Today Message - Token Of Worship

Related Articles

Back to top button