The Greatness of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:4)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03-14-03

 

                                                                                                                       

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Greatness of Melchizedek

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Hebrews 7:4

 

            Message of the verse:  “Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.”  (NASB)  “Consider then how great this Melchizedek was.  Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized how great Melchizedek was by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle.”  (NLT)

 

            This verse speaks of the greatness of Melchizedek, for he is the one to whom Abraham paid a tithe to.  Speaking of tithing it is the giving of a tenth for that is what the word means.  Strong’s Concordance says that this Hebrew word  used in the King James Version three times, twice being translated as “tithe” and once a “tenth part,” “ a tenth part of anything, a tithe.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I was taught about tithing from my earliest childhood, and my dad tithed for most of his life.  After becoming a believer it did not take me long to began tithing, although at first I did it at the Christian bookstore where they had a ministry that I was involved in.  I must say that my wife has always gone along with tithing and even more than tithing.  Once we joined Grace Baptist Church we put our tithes in there and the Lord has richly blessed our lives.  God owns it all, as I am only a steward of it so I am thankful for being taught tithing at an early age, and that the Lord has put it in my heart to tithe.

 

The Word of God was both refreshing and challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord concerning the worries over the possible war with Iraq knowing that God is the One who is in charge of all history, and also knowing that He will care for His own children, including those who believe in Iraq, who need my prayers.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:1-4

 

1.      I waited patiently for the LORD, and He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2.      He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet on a rock making my footsteps firm.

3.      And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

4.      How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud nor to those who lapse into falsehood.