A Tithe Of All

Song: He Wants It All – forever Jones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3lyJkYnkzo)

Scriptures:
Genesis 14:17-20 (New King James Version)
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.
Abram and Melchizedek
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.

Mark 12:41-44 (King James Version)
41And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Luke 21:1-4 (King James Version)
1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
[ penury:
1) deficiency, that which is lacking
2) in reference to property and resources, poverty, want, destitution]

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Seemingly random things have been occurring over several days which, taken together, prepare me for / to pay attention to whatever I believe the Lord is saying:

- Heard that Christian musical group forever Jones was going to be interviewed on the radio; after that announcement, the radio station played their song, “He Wants It All”
- In a Christian bookstore, hearing some people talking about / looking for the CD from forever Jones
- The next day, hearing on the radio that the CD was to be released
- While in a Bible study class (on a Tuesday) referencing the healing of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, a woman in the class began speaking of tithing (though I don’t now remember the context)
- On the way home from the class, thinking about something else, interrupted in hearing: “…a tithe of all”
- Found this in Genesis 14:20 (NKJV)
- Reminder of 100% tithe lesson (blog from 2009.12.07 – That’s Not Your Testimony) when started rationalizing to myself that God was not saying what it looked like He might be saying, using other translations which said “a tenth of everything” (not “a tithe of all”)
- Lesson on the widow’s mite assigned that next day
- Email message the day of that assignment entitled: Tithe Habitually

So, I’m wondering exactly what God wants all of – no, even as I write this, I realize that I’m not really wondering that at all. I believe He wants all of everything, given as a gift, a sacrifice of love, not of duty or obligation. Guess I’m just not sure what that will look like in my life right now. (I do know that I probably should have been up writing this at 3 something this morning instead of almost 3 something in the afternoon – still struggling with that waking up / getting up thing, especially since it was so cool then … having to battle that lust of the flesh! Sorry, God.)

In the Bible study class I’ve been attending, we’ve been talking some about people (“unnamed heroes”) who do the unexpected, and my thoughts have been about how God does the unexpected. I think often of verses from Isaiah 55:

Isaiah 55:6-13 (New International Version)
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

Lord, I ask You to forgive me, to please help me. Too often You know that my obedience is not immediate, not complete. And You know that my surrender to Your will in all things, at all times, is not what it should be. Help me forsake my way, my thoughts, and let that mind be in me that was in Christ Jesus. Thank You for Your goodness that has drawn me to repentance, for the convicting power of Your Spirit and of Your Word, for Your faithfulness and Your promise in Your
Word to forgive me my sins and to purify me from all unrighteousness, all sin by the blood of Jesus. Thank You for Your patience, Your love, Your truth, Your tender mercy and grace towards me that continues.

Psalm 19:13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

... and my journey with Him continues ...