Offering with a Heart Full, Not Hands Full
Deut 16:16b …and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
When we come before our Lord, it is a reasonable service for us to bring an offering with us! Some may think that they have nothing to offer. If this is your thought, ask yourself this question: What would the Lord require of you? I think of 1 Sam 15:22, which says, "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." This reminds me that even if my hands are empty, my heart doesn’t have to be!
Many times I have come to the Lord knowing that any amount of offering I could muster up would not suffice; yet, I've found Him to be so gracious and receptive of even the smallest, seemingly insignificant offerings, when I have with grateful heart and tear-filled eyes willingly offered Him my meager best! Remember the widow lady who cast in all the living that she had, which was but a little? Jesus said of her that she had cast in more than they all! Aren't you glad that God doesn't measure the value of our gifts like men do?
God does not ask of us that which we do not have; He only asks of that which we do have! Have you given God yourself? If not, that's the best place to start!
Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Psa 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
When we come before our Lord, it is a reasonable service for us to bring an offering with us! Some may think that they have nothing to offer. If this is your thought, ask yourself this question: What would the Lord require of you? I think of 1 Sam 15:22, which says, "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." This reminds me that even if my hands are empty, my heart doesn’t have to be!
Many times I have come to the Lord knowing that any amount of offering I could muster up would not suffice; yet, I've found Him to be so gracious and receptive of even the smallest, seemingly insignificant offerings, when I have with grateful heart and tear-filled eyes willingly offered Him my meager best! Remember the widow lady who cast in all the living that she had, which was but a little? Jesus said of her that she had cast in more than they all! Aren't you glad that God doesn't measure the value of our gifts like men do?
God does not ask of us that which we do not have; He only asks of that which we do have! Have you given God yourself? If not, that's the best place to start!
Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Psa 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill