Josh1Eight

Scripture: Luke 12:1-3 Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! Observations: One day Jesus' ministry was became so popular that the crowds were literally flocking to see Him. But Jesus took that opportunity to teach his disciples how little God cares about people's opinions. God wasn't impressed with the fact that Jesus and His disciples managed to attract thousands of people in a single meeting. Jesus was quick to warn about the danger of playing to public opinon. What the public sees is exactly that "public". The fact that ...

Scripture: “You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. 23 Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God...Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work. Observations: As part of Israel's worship they were required to give God a tithe (10%) of their income on a regular basis. Why? Because it not only supported the priests who facilitated worship in the Temple but it was also a very personal part of each family's worship that taught them to fear the Lord and ensured His blessing on their lives. The fact that they gave God the first and best part of what they had forced them to acknowledge that He was their source and that true blessing monitarily or otherwis...