This day is often referred to as the day of the Lord, erroneously tagged the day the Lord rose from the dead. It would be more biblically correct if it’s referred to as the day the disciples discovered that He had resurrected! Both Matthew 28:6 and Luke 24:6, recorded an event that had happened, not just happening! This is however not our main subject, rather understanding what informed the choice of this day, first day of the week, as time to lay something aside.
On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 1 Corinthians 16:2 (AMPC)
John 20:19,26 (KJV), explains further
Then on that same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace to you! …Eight days later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though they were behind closed doors, and stood among them and said, Peace to you!
This was the day the Lord revealed Himself to them as the resurrected Lord, and eventually became the day disciples gathered together to remember the Lord in the taking of the sacraments. But as we do, we bring to life the sacrifice that satisfied the demands of God’s holiness and righteousness which we could not pay.
And because he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made. So the attendant fell on his knees, begging him, Have patience with me and I will pay you everything. And his master’s heart was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave him [cancelling] the debt. Matthew 18:25-27 (AMPC)
2 Corinthians 8:9 (AMPC) further declared
For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
In the spirit of the season, should this not affect our hearts in respect of giving? Could you imagine if He sacrificed or forgave by percentages? We would still be debtors, but He cancelled all! Where then is the wisdom of tying giving to percentages! Do we now live by customs, becoming mechanical to serve our greed or should rather as of a grateful people reciprocate with offerings sweet smelling sacrifice, which is our acceptable worship.
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:1-2 (AMPC)
May this season cause every believer to reflect on his or her motivation for giving. Selah
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