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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Deuteronomy 26:12-19
The invitation in Hebrews 13:15 to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually is immediately followed by this exhortation: "But to do good and to communicate forget not." Here too we find the subject of gifts dealt with immediately after that of the firstfruit offerings to the LORD (vv. 1-11). The tithes were part of Israel’s worship and v. 11 teaches us why: it was necessary that the Levite and the stranger could rejoice with the Israelite. Likewise we are requested to share our goods with others, not to draw thanks or attention to ourselves from it, but so that the person with whom we share gives thanks to the Lord with us for the good things which we enjoy together (2 Corinthians 9:12). In heaven doing good will no longer be relevant, all need of it having obviously disappeared. But on earth the Spirit of God connects this service with praise as if to give us the opportunity to prove our love to the Lord other than by words. Moreover let us not forget the touching reason which should be sufficient for us: "for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16)!
One single thing distinguished Israel "in praise and in name and in honour above all nations": that was obedience to the commandments of his God (vv. 18, 19).
