TO

A BIBLE LOVER'S CLUB
by
George L. Zbinden

GOD FIRST ~~~ GOD FIRST ~~~ GOD FIRST ~~~ GOD FIRST

Welcome to my web site for Bible Lovers. I created this site to share the WORD of GOD with others and to encourage each of us to keep "GOD FIRST".

This page will be changed frequently, so please check back from time to time. Some times it will be serious and sometimes it will be humorous. Always with a message for today.

AS OF NOVEMBER 6 OUR NEW ADDRESS WILL BE

1105 HALE CIRCLE
CENTER POINT, ALABAMA 35215

Due to the disruption of our regular schedule, and the disconnection of our computer for an unknown length of time, you may not get a new devotion for a few days! Pray for us. GOD BLESS you!

TEXT: Isaiah 44:17
17 “And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.” (KJV)

Additional Scripture passages to read regarding this thought are: Psalm 115: 1 – 8; & Malachi 1:6 – 14.

INTRODUCTION:

God is speaking to Israel through His servant, Malachi in the passage given above. He is not pleased with His people. They have dishonored Him and have made Him an object of ridicule. The priests of Israel are probably most guilty because they have not only sinned themselves, they have led the people into the sins they are practicing. When the priests protested. to prove His point God said, “if you don’t think you are doing wrong, offer the gifts to your politicians which you have been offering me!”

In verse 14, God said, “But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.” (KJV). There were strict requirements for sacrifices. If anyone should have known them, the priests should. Yet they were bored, disrespectful, and presented unacceptable sacrifices to their Great God and King, JEHOVAH, the LORD God Almighty.

A missionary from India told the following story. I cannot give the source, but I heard it and understood it to be true. A missionary was standing on the shore of the Ganghis river. A woman came by leading a boy and girl. A few minutes later the woman came back by the missionary. She was crying and leading only the little girl. The missionary asked about her problem. She replied she had just come from offering her son as a sacrifice to the river god. The missionary knew the value placed on sons and daughters by the local community so he asked, “Why did you not offer your daughter rather than your son?” The woman answered, almost angrily, “What, do you think I would give my god less than may best?” What an answer! We sacrifice our sons and daughters to the gods of popularity and pleasure and think we are doing right by them! Things which last for a life time are given priority over eternal things!

I. THE PEOPLE AND PRIESTS OF MALACHI’S DAY

a. A large portion of their ‘Worship’ was a formality and it was CORRUPT. They kept the law with exceptions! They were insincere, bored, self-centered, and used sick/torn, unacceptable animals for their sacrifices!
b. Malachi 3:7 and 18:
v.7 “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? . . .
18 “Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” (KJV)

II. THE PEOPLE AND PREACHERS OF OUR DAY

I’m sure we all remember David’s reaction to the offer of the threshing floor, land, and oxen as a gift. 2 Samuel 24:24
“And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” (KJV)

How many of us would have taken him up on the offer? We do give God our ‘left overs’, don’t we?

a. TALENTS: Deuteronomy 8:18
18 “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,” (KJV)

How much talent is lost to the Lord’s work because His people are using the talents He gave them to earn money for themselves? If they happen to find any extra time, they may give some of it to Him!

c. TIME: There are 168 hours in a week. A tenth of that would be 16.8 hours. Can you picture the changes that would take place if He were to get that many hours from each of the church members in each of the churches in our communities? Add up the hours you spend in Bible study, prayer, witnessing, and church attendance, how many total hours do you ‘put in’ for God?

Matthew 23:23
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (KJV)

Some of the people of Malachi’s day tried to “pay off” their God given responsibilities just as some do today! Don’t try to short-change God! It will surely back fire!

CONCLUSION:

1 Corinthians 16:2
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (KJV)

The tithe is the Lord’s. It is to come out of every pay check; not just the Sundays we may choose to attend the worship services. It is a rare thing that God gets His own from His people. It used to be said that 20% of the members gave 80% of the offerings. The potential for doing good in God’s name is astounding. If the current ministry were to be multiplied by an additional 80%, think of the honor and glory which would come to His Holy name!

The REMEDY for today is the same as it was in the days of Malachi, i.e., RETURN! Give God the glory and give Him His due! Put Him First! IS YOUR GOD A GOD OF LEFT OVERS?

BITS AND PIECES