Bring an Offering

Back in Bible times people needed to bring an offering to the Lord, or a sacrifice at the alter as a way to atone for their sins. Instead of getting put to death for their sin, a lamb or other animal was sacrificed. When Jesus came, He chose to be the final sacrificial Lamb for our sins, so that we wouldn't have to live in condemnation of sin any longer. He atoned for our sins once and for all. 
All we have to do now is accept it, and choose to spend our life learning to love and obey Him. (Notice I said "learning" to love, not "earning His love".. big difference)

As I read David's words in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, the phrase "Bring an offering" (vs 29) kept leaping off the page to me. I underlined it and said, "Lord what are trying to tell me? An offering was already made, it was Jesus." But He kept saying "bring me an offering" and I was reminded that even though God doesn't want an animal sacrifice from us anymore, he still wants an offering. And I'm not talking about money right now. He wants an offering of whatever stands between us and Him. He wants us to offer it up. This is why you see people raising their hands sometimes during worship, they are offering up whatever they need to let go of. Or they are simply offering themselves, saying, "Here I am Lord." 

So I opened my hands and said, God I give you my fears, my insecurities, I give you the issues I am having with others who have hurt me, I give you my children, my marriage, anything I can think of Lord, I offer it to You. It's Yours. Please do with it all as You please, and help me to always desire You more than anything else. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Is there something you need to offer to the Lord today? Maybe it's a past wound, or a current one. Maybe it's something you desire more than Him, or maybe it's your own life. Whatever it is, I urge you to do it today. Begin the journey of letting go of the things that weigh you down. Learn how to truly worship the Lord, and let your life be a daily offering to Him. 

David's Song of Thanks

8 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!
12 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles and the judgments he uttered,
13 O offspring of Israel his servant,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

14 He is the Lord our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
    the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
    his sworn promise to Isaac,
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
    as your portion for an inheritance.”

19 When you were few in number,
    of little account, and sojourners in it,
20 wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them;
    he rebuked kings on their account,
22 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
    do my prophets no harm!”

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
    Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;[a]
30     tremble before him, all the earth;
    yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
    and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
    before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

35 Say also:

“Save us, O God of our salvation,
    and gather and deliver us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
    and glory in your praise.
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting!”

Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.