There are a lot of myths surrounding this practice but the one that kept reoccurring in my research is the following:
In English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. The traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (540-604 AD) became the Pope just in time for the start of the plague in 590 AD (rumor has it that his predecessor died from it). To combat the plague Gregory ordered everyone in the land to pray for God's intercession. When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague.
From there, it just became a custom to say “God Bless you” whenever someone sneezed!
Showing posts with label blessing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blessing. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Friday, 9 July 2010
Why do we do offering?
We do an offering because it is a way that we show God that we love Him. It is a practice that was established way back before the time of Moses. Abraham, the father of the Jews, gave back to God in Genesis 14:20 when he gave God a tenth of everything he had. In fact, the word “tithe” (which is another name for an offering) means “a tenth.”
Look at what it says in Leviticus, "A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30) “The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod—will be holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:32)
Jesus continued to preach and reaffirmed the value of tithing in the New Testament when He said, “Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:23)
Did you know that by faithfully tithing, God promises you a blessing? In fact, God says it this way in Malachi 3:10, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” This is the only place in the entire Bible, Old and New Testament, where God says to test Him.
But, here’s the key: You must do this joyfully. Don’t do it begrudgingly. Don’t do it because you feel you are forced to do it. God would rather you didn’t give at all. He wants you to do it because you love Him and want to give back to Him. Remember what it says in Proverbs 3:9, “Honor the Lord with all your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” And here’s what it says in Luke 12:34, “For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”
Look at what it says in Leviticus, "A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30) “The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod—will be holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:32)
Jesus continued to preach and reaffirmed the value of tithing in the New Testament when He said, “Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:23)
Did you know that by faithfully tithing, God promises you a blessing? In fact, God says it this way in Malachi 3:10, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” This is the only place in the entire Bible, Old and New Testament, where God says to test Him.
But, here’s the key: You must do this joyfully. Don’t do it begrudgingly. Don’t do it because you feel you are forced to do it. God would rather you didn’t give at all. He wants you to do it because you love Him and want to give back to Him. Remember what it says in Proverbs 3:9, “Honor the Lord with all your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” And here’s what it says in Luke 12:34, “For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”
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