Faith Offering
Jesus is not concerned with the quantity of our offerings but the confidence we display through our giving.
“If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you.”
Leviticus 1:2-4
The people were taught to regularly give a portion of what they had back to God both as an expression of trust and to make things right. No one ever needs to be told that they are not perfect. We all know that we fall short of perfection. So the natural process was to offer atonement for the shortcomings as well as tithes and offerings for God's generosity.
One key point in this text is the importance of the purity of the heart of the giver. Moses tells the people to offer an animal without defect. He is saying don't give God your left overs or lame gifts. Give your best, first and you will be pleasing God by showing your faith that He will provide later for your needs. How do you feel about giving? How does your current generosity reflect your trust in God?
“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust...Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”
Psalms 91:1-3, 11-12, 14-15
David trusted God would answer Him and He did. Do we trust God? It is important to tell the truth about how we feel. The negative experiences of our lives can make us want to hold tightly to the possessions we have and can discourage us from praying boldly.
David encourages others to believe boldly, trust greatly, and love fully. Do you know that the promises God made to David, He also makes to you? He will protect, answer, deliver, honor, and save those who love Him.
“All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not...Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might"
Ecclesiastes 9:1-2, 7-8, 10
Wisdom wants to teach us to operate from a place of strength. The enemy of your life wants you to focus on where you fall short, your weaknesses, and your fears. The invitation is to listen to the voice of truth in your life that God loves you and wants you to find a life filled with joy and meaning. He clothes you in white and anoints your head with oil so that you can be free to do your best.
Have you been giving it your all? Do you feel the satisfaction of being exhausted having spent your time and energy for a worthy cause?
“They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them... you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.”
Jeremiah 25:5-7
Truth teaches us how blessed we will be when we bring offerings to God. Unfortunately, when we walk away and don't trust God, we can bring pain upon ourselves. The Lord said you brought it on yourselves. How often are the consequences of pain we experience self-inflicted?
What advice does God give? He says trust in Me alone. Don't follow the patterns or beliefs of other cultures, follow Me.
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money...Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God...By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong."
Acts 3:1-8, 16, 19-20
It is remarkable to remember that Peter and John had been blue collar workers with no formalized religious education other than walking with Jesus. They were not wealthy. They did not have advanced degrees or fancy titles. By the world's standards they were poor and unqualified. Is your default reaction to this story that you could not experience the same miracle? Mark Batterson says, "God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called."
Peter and John did not do anything in this story that every person reading this devotional could not do. They gave an invitation to have faith that Jesus could bring healing and hope to a hurting man. Look at how what they did displayed trust and confidence in God's miraculous power. God will multiple whatever we offer to Him and use whatever we have to help others in need. The question is not if, but how God wants to use you today. It is by faith in the name of Jesus that the man was healed and it is by faith in the name of Jesus that we can bring healing. Give what you have and see what God will do with whatever you offer to Him.