March 11, 2019: SOAP #3385:  Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

Scripture:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 16:16 Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed: 17 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.

Observation:   The Israelites were required to gather at the tabernacle three times each year.  They were not to come to the Lord with empty hands.  They were to bring an offering.  Their offerings were their way of acknowledging that God had a part in their harvest.  They had worked hard to prepare the soil; they had worked hard to plant the seeds; they had worked hard in gathering the harvest.  But if God had not done His part (like providing the nutrients in the soil, like providing the rain, like providing the sun) none of their efforts would have been fruitful!

So, their offering was to be in proportion to how God had blessed them!   It pleases God when we honor Him in our giving.

Application:  I am not to come empty-HANDED before the Lord.  Neither am I to come empty-HEARTED!  I should come with a heart full of thanksgiving!  And neither should I come empty-HEADED!  I should come with my mind full of His Word.  The greatest command, according to Jesus, is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength.  Yes, the mind is included. It brings God no glory to be worshipped by mindless robots.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I do not want to be empty-HEARTED nor empty-HEADED when I come before you.  I know that if my heart and my head are full, my hands will be full too!  I want to bring you and offering that you will enjoy.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!