Do you remember when your kids were little...
you learned to never leave the house without some sort of snack. Because often, empty hands, can become those "too busy hands" that get toddlers into trouble. Whether your destination was the grocery store, the dentist, or the library... you always had a snack at the ready. And then, it never failed... whether you were hungry or not, those sweet sticky fingers would stretch forth the very bite you just gave them, getting it as close as possible to your mouth as if to offer this gift to you. And you'd give them that... nnnuumm-nnnuumm-nnnuumm sound pretending to partake, but barely parting lips to keep the slimy snack from sneaking in. Then shaking your head ever so slightly, as if it to say... How very precious, are you trying to feed me, as I have fed you. . And our child thinks themselves so very generous to offer a couple crumbly crackers, an open paw of pretzels, a fist full of fruit snacks... without so much as a nibble of knowledge that this nourishment came from the owner of the very mouth it now reaches forward to feed. How ironic. Here too is where we find David... In the middle of this same sort of contemplation. Only this, about our Lord. He had spoken to the assembly of Israel, proclaiming as the new king, his son, Solomon. Then he told of the plans for this new tabernacle, and all the provisions of which he had stored. He asked the elders and leaders, and all the assembly to give, as he had. And then he addressed the people of Israel... Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?” 1 Chronicles 29:5 NKJV And the leaders stepped forth. They gave with willing hearts as well. As did all who gathered in His name. Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly... with a loyal heart... and King David also rejoiced greatly. 1 Chronicles 29:9 What a beautiful celebration in spirit... giving freely, willingly to the Lord. And David also wrote and sang his praises in worship... Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 This worship began as we would expect. But then David reflected, as we did on the toddlers. That while, indeed it is good to give, and a willing and loyal heart we may have. We are often like that child handing back to the dutiful mother... a snack she actually thought ahead to bring. And David says it thus... Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own... we have given You. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. 1 Chronicles 29:14, 16 Now I know that David's treasure was much more precious and valuable than the crumbly cracker that the toddler totes. But to God... all we have to offer when we open our grasping hands, has often become a sticky human mess. For our understanding of Him is so very limited. And there is nothing on this earth that we have made, that we can truly own... that was not originally from the Lord. For we are His workmanship... even our will and determination to create and invent, our genius, our intellect, our imagination and design, all are from the Lord. Nothing good exists outside of God. So all that we give to Him, is actually from Him. We are simply giving it back, in part, to show Him that we know He is the Giver, the Originator, the Creator, of all good things. But David was especially keen on knowing that they were building a temple to house the ark of God with precious elements the people held dear. And anything they gave to Him... had actually been prepared mand planned ahead by Him. This was his true heart of humility and understanding. Word of God, train me, today... to consider all that I have as not my own, but all unto You, a gift given, to hold loosely all that is in my life, not grasping, not mine, but Yours to do with as You will. O Lord, I stood here humbly holding what I once thought was mine to give. But now it seems I am barely a teetering toddler, stretching forth my sticky fingers... Lord, will You receive the praise I offer... even in it's messy human form? Everything I am I offer up to You! For You have made me, given me, formed me... all to worship You.
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January 2019
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