Todays Reading, Genesis 8-11
Focal Scripture: Genesis 8:20 “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.”
What is an offering? In biblical terms it is a gift or sacrifice presented to the Lord that demonstrates an act of worship, thanksgiving, or atonement. An offering is personal and meaningful and it stems from a grateful heart. Especially, when God delivers his people from a situation that only he can accomplish. An offering to the Lord revealed the heart of the person and their love towards him in a very real and tangible way.
In today’s reading Noah gives an offering to the Lord. He does this after the flood and when his family was delivered from their experience. Noah not only makes an offering, he makes an altar for that offering to take place on as soon as he was able. Noah was not just committed to this act, he was determined to make it happen. Noah, in an act of worship performed burnt offering to the Lord. This act was meaningful, purposeful, and powerful. Noah wanted to give back in a way that was more than just symbolic but personally costly.
How do you worship the Lord in your life? Do you give offerings to the Lord? I personally believe that offerings are the biblical standard and expectation today both for the church and the individual. The problem is that many people only view offerings as monetary and not holistically. For instance, do you consider your time and your talent as an offering to the Lord. Do you consider your resources as an offering to help benefit other people? Offerings come from the heart not a legal obligation. Which is exactly what tithing is in the Old Testament.
I challenge you today to look at the resources in your life and give God out of those resources. Maybe you are a gifted counselor and you can donate time to help a family in need. You might have access to land or housing that can help a missionary family get their feet back on the ground. It could be a business you own that can meet a specific need for the local church or the community. It might very well be money that can bless people or ministries.
The point of today is to give God offerings because what he has done for you personally. Too often money is how we view this act of worship. When in reality offerings show a grateful heart. So how does your heart look today? Do you give offerings to the Lord? Or are you giving out of obligation and because it is what you have always heard?
We should give to the Lord and it should be in abundance. It just might not look the way people expect it to look. Think outside the box and see how God has blessed you to worship him and give back to your community. Have a heart of worship not obligation.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Job 1-5
