Offering ourselves WILLINGLY to GOD!
May 1
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles Chapters 28-29
Offering ourselves WILLINGLY to GOD!
"Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I
have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for
the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver: Who then is willing to consecrate himself
this day to the Lord?" (1 Chron. 29:3, 5)
As King
David assembled all the leaders of Israel, he spoke to them all the desires
that he had about the temple of God that he was planning to construct and how
God did not allow him to do that task. He then spoke about how God had chosen
Solomon among all his sons to be the ruler of Israel after him. However, David
understood that Solomon was young and inexperienced, and the work in building
the temple was great and needed everyone’s support (1 Chron. 29:1). David then explained
about all the treasures that he had kept aside for building the temple, and
challenged the leaders and all people to offer willingly to God. What really happened after King David issued
the challenge to the leaders and the people of Israel?
- Everyone offered willingly their treasures to the work of God (v. 6-8).
- After giving so willingly, everyone (including King David) rejoiced because they were able to offer so willingly to God from a loyal heart. (v. 9)
- David blessed the God of Israel who gave them riches, honor and strength to do such a task (v. 10-12)
- David thanked God out of a humble heart as God allowed them to give Him out of what God had already given them (v. 13-14)
- David acknowledged that they were pilgrims on the earth and that their life was a shadow that would soon disappear (v. 15)
Finally,
King David spoke these words out of his heart: "I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in
uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen
Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You." (1
Chron. 29:17)
Let us understand clearly that God
gives us blessings and then tests us to see if we are able to offer willingly
to God. God is the true
owner of everything we possess. All of heaven and earth belongs to God (1 Chron.
29:11). Even our bodies belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20), and God has given us
all things to enjoy in this life (1 Tim. 6:17).
Let us offer our bodies as living
sacrifices to God so that we become a sweet smelling aroma to God as we obey Apostle Paul’s pleading: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1).
In doing so, we also become a fragrance of Christ to everyone we meet: "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life." (2 Cor. 2:14-16)
