DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 18 April 2025: Serving Willingly and Sacrificially
KEY VERSE: “Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD.” – (Leviticus 27:28).
TEXT: Leviticus 27:26-34 (KJV)
‘But the firstborn of the animals, which should be the Lord’s firstborn, no man shall dedicate; whether it is an ox or sheep, it is the Lord’s. 27 And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall redeem it according to your valuation, and shall add one-fifth to it; or if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.
28 ‘Nevertheless no devoted offering that a man may devote to the Lord of all that he has, both man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted offering is most holy to the Lord. 29 No person under the ban, who may become doomed to destruction among men, shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death. 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord. 31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. 33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’ ”
34 These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.
At a slave market in the latter half of the 19th Century, an influential man redeemed a woman from her owner. He asked the lady to go wherever she pleased in her new status as a liberated person. She declined, saying she would follow her new benefactor home to become his servant as a way of appreciating his kindness. She said she now belonged to him and would perform any task he might assign to her.
This unique choice of the woman is analogous and comparable to the expected devotion, affection, and loyalty Israel should have towards God, who saved her from slavery in Egypt. As they enjoyed their emancipation, Jacob’s descendants were equally demanded to freely serve their Liberator, obey His commandments, and voluntarily dedicate their household, property, time, and skills to the One who rescued them from reproach. Such response to divine love must be unblemished, as “every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD.”
Israel was an agricultural nation; therefore, they were instructed to give a tenth (tithe) of their produce as part of their devotion. “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.” Taking a cue from the foregoing, we should not do less. We owe all to Jesus. Our salvation, sanctification, Spirit baptism, power for victorious Christian living, healing and health, authority over the devil and his cohorts, peace and joy of the Lord, and the hope of eternal life must compel us to give not just a tenth but all unto Him in appreciation.
When He died for us, and we accepted His redemption plan, it was only the beginning of a lifetime association characterised by constant giving to Him of all our substance willingly. Yielding all to the Lord brings us into partnership with Him, and all who serve Him will be honoured by the Father. Lasting joy has eluded the men and women of the world because they have misplaced their priorities in their quest for prosperity. They ignore the scriptural principles that highlight the fact that true blessings and joy come from adhering to the laws of the Author of life. He blesses cheerful and selfless givers who care for the needy and the expansion of His Kingdom.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Does your life spell out the word “devout?”
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Acts 22-23
Daily Manna 18 April 2025
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