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Hitting Toes and Cutting Deep

Complaining about our wants, 

while we overlook others’ needs, 

is not “patiently waiting on God’s provision”.

#HitMyToesFirst

Last night I posted this privately instead of publicly because I needed to think about it closely. I then commented on it with my thoughts about it before heading off to sleep:

And I’m not just talking about stuff. 

If my wanting or expecting someone to be a different way so that they are easier for me to deal with — is greater than my seeing their need for someone to love, encourage, and help them — where does that leave me?

Lord, teach us to walk in your way. Teach us to see things from that new, right perspective of love that has no agenda and is not self serving.

Then I woke up to our morning routine as a family. 

Proverbs 11:17 was Mia’s morning devotional and ours was Phillipines 4:6-7,11-13 this morning. Pretty cool when you wake up to confirmation to what you were contemplating and chewing on before going to sleep. 

When you’re kind to others, you help yourself; when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.

Proverbs 11:17 MSG

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:6‭-‬7‭, ‬11‭-‬13 NLT

And I’m reminded that whether or not we receive the truth and allow it to work it’s way down into our hearts and be planted, applied, and lived out in our lives should serve as a testimony as to the true state of our faith, of our relationship with Christy who is meant to live in us and through us, child of God. (Mark 4) We should examine ourselves and fall broken and repentant in the hands of the potter to be renewed in our minds, changed in our hearts, touched by the hands of His powerful grace and His Holy Spirit that is alive in the heart of a believer. This Word of God is sharp and should cut deep and do its work firmly and surely — as He proves us more and more,  from grace to grace,  as His new creation.
Let’s not let the enemy steal away this Word, let’s guard our hearts. Let’s not get excited about it only to fall away under heavy burdens and obligation, let’s respond in gratitude to this gift of grace. Let’s not get distracted by the world and the flesh, but let’s walk in the spirit and in fellowship with other believers. Let’s put our hands to this wondrous plow that tills up the soil of our hearts and turns hard packed, rocky, and weed riddled lives into fertile,  fruitful lives because of His touch,  His guidance,  His love that is the strength pushing that plow forward in our lives today and forever more. Amen.

Daddy Daughter Bible Study

My Daughter and I have started sharing our Bible Study online in video format:

The feedback on this Bible Study has been great on Facebook, so I thought that I would share on here as well.

Chosen, Beloved

​All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.  He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. – Ephesians 1:3‭-‬9 NLT
And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. – 1 Peter 2:8‭-‬9 NLT
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2 ESV
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:4‭-‬10 ESV

Yucky Mouths

We have a homeless friend who spent time with us at church and who shared meals and Bible study with us several years ago when my daughter was 4. One time as we had a large group of rag tag folks all eating together in a restaurant on Sunday amongst the tables filled with suits and ties around us,  our friend opened his mouth wide to display his meth destroyed teeth to my daughter and said,  “This is why you need to brush your teeth.” This stuck with my daughter and she remembers to this day and is diligent in maintaining her beautiful smile.

Yesterday, we had a need come to us from a man whose teeth are in extremely bad shape and are abscessed to the point that he cannot eat. Drugs,  especially meth, do horrible damage to a person’s teeth and body. But our lesson isn’t about homeless people’s teeth. Our lesson is about how sin and the influence of the world gives us rotten mouths.

 

“You have heard that it was said to those of old,  ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable  to judgment.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.  Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. – Matthew 5:21‭-‬26 ESV

 

I wonder how many of us let things slip out of our mouths to touch the ears of others with things that are yucky,  disgusting, vile, naughty, or inappropriate – things that do not glorify God?

 

And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand:  it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” – Matthew 15:10‭-‬11 ESV

 

Words really do matter:

 

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad,  for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:33‭-‬37 ESV

 

So how do we need to repent today in our words? Will we have yucky mouths today that speak forth death into the lives of those around us? Will our mouths participate in the filthy ways of the world or will they serve the Lord?

 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:29‭-‬32 ESV

 

If we are indeed followers of Christ,  if we indeed have the Spirit of Truth abiding within our vessel, if our faith is alive and not dead, let’s clean up our conversations and bridle our tongues and have that old rotten conversation replaced with what is the good, acceptable,  and perfect will of God. Let’s let His Word be upon our tongues and let’s see this Good News go forth to the nations.

He hears His own

​Come and hear, all who fear God [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], And I will tell what He has done for me. I cried aloud to Him; He was highly praised with my tongue. If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me]; But certainly God has heard [me]; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me. – PSALM 66:16‭-‬20 AMP

We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. – John 9:31 NLT

Listen! The Lord ’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. – Isaiah 59:1‭-‬2 NLT

As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” – Romans 3:10‭-‬12 NLT

So if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and while there you remember that your brother has something [such as a grievance or legitimate complaint] against you,  leave your offering there at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come and present your offering. – MATTHEW 5:23‭-‬24 AMP

We love, because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him. – 1 JOHN 4:19‭-‬21 AMP

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. – 1 John 1:8‭-‬10 NLT

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. – James 5:16 NLT

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.  I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you].  If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.  I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. – JOHN 15:7‭-‬11 AMP

How many Bibles?

​The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;  the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;  the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. – Psalms 19:7‭-‬11 ESV

Have you ever counted the number of Bibles that are in your house? How about the number that your parents owned?

Are they gathering dust on the shelves or are they serving a daily purpose in our lives? Are they touched once or twice a week and sitting in their assigned place far from us, or are they a close reference that we apply and consult regularly? 

Whether or not a Bible is physically close to us isn’t quite as important as whether we are spiritually close to the Word of God. What does our relationship with Christ look like? Are we drawing closer or falling away? Are we resting, crawling, walking, or running to both receive this Truth, this Life, this Way of Christ and to carry it to the nations?

We live in a country where the Bible is readily available, but that isn’t true everywhere in the world. In some places, those in power are working to keep Christianity and the Bible out of the hands of the people they oppress and control. And some people do not yet have the Bible translated into a language they can understand. 

There are some people in the world who would gladly give months worth of their wages just to have their own copy of the Bible. In one way, we are blessed to have access to the Word of God, to devotionals,  to churches on many corners in our cities. But I wonder if we sometimes forget the value of this freedom? I wonder if we sometimes take for granted these precepts that give us insight to life and that provide both a warning and a great reward. 

Lord, remind us of that precious bond. Remind us of that sweet, sweek aroma of your presence. Remind us of that healing touch of your hand. Let us draw close to you, knowing you will draw close to us. Speak to us through your Word,  and let it cut deep into our hearts, casting aside the weeds of doubt, unforgiveness, bitterness, strife, and anything that doesn’t glorify you – so that your seed is planted in good soil to grow and flourish. Send the rain and light that will grow our faith to be strong and sound and trustworthy for your name’s sake,  Lord. You are our comforter and guide. You are the true bread of life that we consume, and the blood of salvation that washes over us,  and the living waters that overflow or vessel with your very character and nature,  and the fire in our bones that sends us our to tell the nations of this Good News: that God has come in the flesh,  that Jesus Crust is not dead in the ground, but risen and alive as the first fruits, the way,  the truth,  and the life example of what lies in store for those whose faith is working through love, for those who have taken up their cross to follow Jesus, repenting from sin, turning to God, sharing their testimony, and not loving this world but loving and serving God and one another even unto death. 

Thank you, Lord. 

Amen.

Faith working through Love

​Love does no wrong to a neighbor [it never hurts anyone]. Therefore [unselfish] love is the fulfillment of the Law. Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ]. 

The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light. Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires. – ROMANS 13:10‭-‬14 AMP
You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing]. For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love. 

But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage–our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another. – GALATIANS 5:4‭-‬6‭, ‬16‭, ‬19‭-‬26 AMP

Sometimes we need a push

​You ain’t no punk. 

Get up. Get to walking. 

Put your hand on that plow, 

and don’t turn back by just talking. 
Yesterday is gone, 

today is here, 

live for eternity like you 

only have God to fear.
Don’t play those games, 

Don’t walk those old ways, 

Step with a purpose, 

For the rest of your days. 
This time will fly by, 

Things will quickly gather dust, 

So make sure you have a crown, 

That will never rust. 
Don’t mistake friends for enemies, 

Or enemies for friends, 

There are very different destinations, 

When we all come to our ends. 
Know who you love, 

Know who you serve, 

Live it like He’s worth it,

if you’ve got the nerve.
Love you, brothers and sisters. 

Eyes up. It’s time to walk it out.

Preparations

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways,  and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” – Luke 3:4‭-‬6 ESV

We are going on a journey, friends. Yes, we are not staying where we are, but we are travelers passing through this land, headed to our true home. And shouldn’t we be preparing ourselves?

“Prepare the way of the Lord”

This preparation begins in the wilderness, in “the desert of my nature”, but my attention to the Master’s call,  and my giving Him a path to my heart, it demonstrates His gracious operation within our lives played out as very real substance of a faith alive and at work through the true believer, follower, disciple of Christ.

So what does this preparation look like? How can we rest in the blessed assurance that we have given this the serious attention that eternity deserves from one who would “work out their salvation in fear and trembling” — from one who would “not deceive themselves by simply listening to the Word”? 

Make His paths straight

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you will change His path or that His ways are ever not faithful and true. No. This is not about our changing His path, but about us changing to align ourselves so that His work is profitable through us, so that we are not a hindrance to our own testimony and usefulness. 

And this doesn’t mean that we must clean ourselves up in order to come to Christ either. It primarily means getting rid of the baggage of the past, along with our doubts, in order to repent and allow Him to lead us straight away towards our destination from this now, into eternity. It means an abandonment of the old and a coming into the new. A death of the old man, and new life in Christ who leads, guides, instructs,  and yes, even disciplines us. 

Every valley shall be filled

The Lord doesn’t just offer us happiness that is contingent upon our circumstances – He offers us peace and joy. And He doesn’t give like the world does, His gifts don’t wither away according to circumstance or season leaving us parched and empty. No, the gifts of His peace and joy are even more evident in the valleys where happiness and pleasure and health and prosperity and pride fail men. It is in the deep valley that these treasures show themselves sufficient. It was in the valley of Elah that David defeated Goliath, not upon a mountaintop. And we see in David’s ever popular Psalm 23, that it is in the valley that our hearts are filled with the strength of trusting in the Lord.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalms 23:1‭-‬6 ESV

Too often, we fear the valley instead of waiting expectantly to see what the Lord will do next to prove Himself faithful and true to those who love Him. 

Any low and groveling thoughts must be given up. Doubting and despairing must be removed. Self-seeking, carnal, and worldly thoughts must be utterly abandoned. Across this chasm a glorious bridge of grace must be raised to reveal our standing firmly upon the foundation of belief in the sufficiency of Christ, and Christ alone, as the cornerstone of our salvation. 

Every mountain and hill will be laid low

What did Jesus say would lay low the mountains? Faith. 

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” – Mark 11:23‭-‬25 ESV

And what are these mountains that threaten us with the possibility of great falls, if not prideful self-sufficiency and foolish self-righteousness.

These must be crushed and leveled, must be blessed with humble bended knee, to make way for the King of Kings. Fellowship with the Lord is not available to haughty, high minded sinners – but the Lord respects the lowly, and visits the contrite and repentant heart of the true believers, while the lofty are an abomination to Him. 

Only the Holy Spirit can set a man right in this respect, and I pray that His hand is upon each of us, and that we have not hardened our hearts against bearing the sweet aroma of the fruit that He bears everywhere that He dwells. 

Remember from whence your grace comes, and that it is not from your own works but through Christ, and Christ alone. Remember your unworthy state and inability to fulfill the law under your own power, and wonder in awe at His mercy and grace that He bids you carry to all who will come prepared to participate as a guest at the great feast.

The crooked shall become straight

And if a man has truly 1) turned from his sin and also 2) turned from his high opinion of himself, isn’t the only gate to this way — for him to find it in Jesus Christ upon the cross, raised to new life, and offered as the Holy Spirit to those who hear His voice? 

There is no other way to truly believe and walk in both these while in the flesh, because they are contrary to one another by the flesh, and can only be satisfied, overcome, fulfilled in the Spirit of Truth. 

And if we walk in the Spirit of Truth,  we walk in godly love – joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-contol. And isn’t it clear that these fulfill the law and that sin is not in them? Isn’t it clear that God is love and there is no sin in Him? Isn’t it clear that God is light and there is no darkness in Him?

So how could the crooked say that they have fellowship with God unless they are liars like their true father? 

So, yes. What was once crooked is made straight. The thief is now the hard working and generous provider. The gossipper is now the humble, quiet and prayerful penitent. The drunk is now the steadfast who carries the burdens of his fellow man. 

The hand of the potter upon the clay vessel does not leave one untouched and unchanged, but utterly new in purpose and vision and direction and substance. 

There is no room for wavering or doublemindedness. So make sure that in everything you are honest and true, because your very thoughts, desires, and intents are clearly visible to the heart-searching God.

The rough places shall become level ways

Stumbling blocks of sin must be put away, and the thorns and briers of rebellion must be uprooted. These things that might serve to stumble and confuse others about Christ’s ministry and work within the believer must not be left to mar our testimony — or even worse, to distract these little ones by any unfaithfulness that is not by any measure a reasonable service to Almighty God whose grace wrenched us from the punishment and separation that we deserve. 

So let our life path and our dwelling place not be a muddy and rocky path that is treacherous to others, but a clear highway upon which many might find safe and sound footing when traveling this path of Grace –

So that in our lifesong –

All flesh shall see the salvation of God.

What will they see today in my life, Christ or me?

Whether faced with circumstances or temptations, valley or mountain, will my spiritual path remain unshaken, firmly fined and sure footed?

Lord, lead us along this triumphant procession of being reconciled to you in the souths of our hearts, minds, body, and spirit, may you reign and may your will be done. Amen.

Do Something

​If I say that I want to see more hands reaching out and feeding the hungry, more feet carrying the gospel to the lost, more cheeks covered with tears for the mourning and hurting –
I better not be found lounging when the opportunity comes for me to show the way through sacrifice and faith in God to provide and bless those who provide for others. 
Helping others has very little to do with “deserve”. We are called to be perfect like our Father in heaven who sends rain on both the just and the unjust. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43‭-‬48 GW

I have heard (and have used myself) the excuse of whether or not someone “deserves” help. Or I’ve ask myself,  “but if I help this real person requesting help, there might not be enough for me to help another theoretical person that REALLY NEEDS IT.” How foolish are we to protect for a maybe by withholding and denying the real opportunity to love in front of us. 

What comfortable lies we tell ourselves – but do we not trust our heavenly Father to provide? Do we not trust Him to bless us even through our making due with less — or bless us in our humble pleading with others once we have ourselves given to our absolute limits — or bless us by providing the means through us to meet every need? Or do we love our stuff, our things, our wants more than we love those who have needs. 

Lord, show us our treachery so that we might repent. 
Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Hebrews 13:16 ESV

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Acts 20:35 ESV

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
“The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord , and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deuteronomy 28:7‭-‬14 ESV
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Malachi 3:10 ESV
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:14‭-‬17 ESV