What is an offering to the Lord unless it actually costs you dearly? If it isn’t costly, it is possibly only a gift. This is a good time of year to think about what a gift is. We buy tons of gifts for this season that we say is about Jesus. But an offering is something different; it is a sacrifice.
I was praying today. I had been writing in my journal. I thought I would sit back and just express myself to the Lord. As I was doing this I realized that I was suddenly able to thoroughly communicate my heart to Him. Words came with ease. They were almost poetic. It was then that I was tempted to begin to write down these things, which were flowing from my open, heart and mind to my Father. This is when I became aware of one of the subtle differences between a gift and an offering.
You see, I write a lot. Many times my writings appear on my blogs. Much of my writings also come up in my conversations with others, or in Bible Studies. Today, I was stricken with the reality that there are some things that are just between the Lord and Me. This is tough for me because I love to share with others. But as I was praying, God made it very clear to me that this particular insight was simply for me. I wasn’t that it didn’t apply to others. It wasn’t that others couldn’t benefit for it. He just wanted this to be ours. And so, it stays as such.
As I continued to pray today, I began to think about the sacrifices and offerings in Scripture. (For you super-spiritual people out there, don’t expect a lengthy explanation about offerings and sacrifices), I thought about how the best of the flock was offered. The best of the grain was given. The best wine was poured out as a drink offering. My mind was continually taken back to the best being offered just for God. It goes without saying that the best sacrifice secured yours and my salvation, Jesus.
We have heard about some amazing offerings in Scripture. We have read of the awesome sacrifices of the people of faith. Abraham offered his son. Noah gave up his good standing and more. Stephen gave his life. The list is long that proclaims the glory of God through sacrifice. But, I wonder about something. I wonder what we missed.
I would like to know all of the words that Abraham prayed. I would like to hear about the conversations that Moses had with God that we don’t have recorded. I can only imagine while David was sleeping in caves what his talks with God must have been. I guarantee you there were things that were mind-boggling that God insisted stayed between the two of them. I would love to hear the things that were said between Esther and God.
While praying today, I was aware that the best offerings are the private ones, the ones so sweet that God desires that they stay between Him and me. This makes me feel special. Today, I picked up the fines bottle of priceless wine and poured my Father a drink. He drank it in. He communicated to me that it was sufficient for His Glory. I enjoyed my wine with my Father. There was a time that I would have thought it wasteful not to use that wine in a way to benefit more. I would have said, “This is so good that I need to share.” But today, I poured it out on Jesus. I am now aware of how perfect that was.
Don’t give something that you have a lot of. Give what hurts the most. Give what seems impossible or wasteful. Lavish your love on the Lord. He has lavished it on You.
I was praying today. I had been writing in my journal. I thought I would sit back and just express myself to the Lord. As I was doing this I realized that I was suddenly able to thoroughly communicate my heart to Him. Words came with ease. They were almost poetic. It was then that I was tempted to begin to write down these things, which were flowing from my open, heart and mind to my Father. This is when I became aware of one of the subtle differences between a gift and an offering.
You see, I write a lot. Many times my writings appear on my blogs. Much of my writings also come up in my conversations with others, or in Bible Studies. Today, I was stricken with the reality that there are some things that are just between the Lord and Me. This is tough for me because I love to share with others. But as I was praying, God made it very clear to me that this particular insight was simply for me. I wasn’t that it didn’t apply to others. It wasn’t that others couldn’t benefit for it. He just wanted this to be ours. And so, it stays as such.
As I continued to pray today, I began to think about the sacrifices and offerings in Scripture. (For you super-spiritual people out there, don’t expect a lengthy explanation about offerings and sacrifices), I thought about how the best of the flock was offered. The best of the grain was given. The best wine was poured out as a drink offering. My mind was continually taken back to the best being offered just for God. It goes without saying that the best sacrifice secured yours and my salvation, Jesus.
We have heard about some amazing offerings in Scripture. We have read of the awesome sacrifices of the people of faith. Abraham offered his son. Noah gave up his good standing and more. Stephen gave his life. The list is long that proclaims the glory of God through sacrifice. But, I wonder about something. I wonder what we missed.
I would like to know all of the words that Abraham prayed. I would like to hear about the conversations that Moses had with God that we don’t have recorded. I can only imagine while David was sleeping in caves what his talks with God must have been. I guarantee you there were things that were mind-boggling that God insisted stayed between the two of them. I would love to hear the things that were said between Esther and God.
While praying today, I was aware that the best offerings are the private ones, the ones so sweet that God desires that they stay between Him and me. This makes me feel special. Today, I picked up the fines bottle of priceless wine and poured my Father a drink. He drank it in. He communicated to me that it was sufficient for His Glory. I enjoyed my wine with my Father. There was a time that I would have thought it wasteful not to use that wine in a way to benefit more. I would have said, “This is so good that I need to share.” But today, I poured it out on Jesus. I am now aware of how perfect that was.
Don’t give something that you have a lot of. Give what hurts the most. Give what seems impossible or wasteful. Lavish your love on the Lord. He has lavished it on You.
Comments