Daily Reading: Leviticus 7
Scripture Focus: His own hands shall bring the Lord's food offerings. (Leviticus 7.30a)
Devotional Thought: One evening at church, two of my little buddies, Griffin and Brennen, gave me a birthday card. I could tell they were excited, as they watched for me and ran up to me. After they gave me the card, they jumped into my arms for a big hug! What a great offering!
Do we feel that way when we bring our offerings to God? "It's time for the offering" are the most dreaded words in church! But should they be? God says: "His own hands shall bring the Lord's offerings..." There's a lot packed into that statement. We are to...
bring our offerings. I love to get gifts, don't you? Especially in person. The card would have been nice in the mail, but hand-delivered - with a hug! - it was wonderful! I think that God feels like this. He loves to see us coming with our offerings and hugs!
bring our offerings. The offering I bring in my hands should reflect the work that I've done with my hands. Griffin and Brennen both had signed the card - with their own unique writing. I loved it! They didn't bring me somebody else's card. They brought me theirs! So, it is with our offerings to God. We cannot bring something that is not ours.
bring our offerings. Griffin and Brennen were not forced to give me a card. They offered it. Willingly. Joyfully. Excitedly. We give to God that way. He doesn't force our gifts from our hands. He lets us freely give them. Our offerings then become expressions of trust and gratitude, of worship and joy. I don't have to, but I want to!
The next time you hear, "It's time for the offering," jump into God's arms for a big hug!
Prayer: Father, thank you for your love and generosity toward me. I am so excited to bring you offerings of my love and gratitude toward you. The next time the offering comes up, help me to jump into your arms for a big hug! Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 23 Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24 And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. 25 He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants. 26 He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words. 29 He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. 30 Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. 31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. 32 He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land. 33 He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country. 34 He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number, 35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground. 36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength. (Psalms 105:23-36)
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