Empty Hands

Exodus 23:14 “Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before me empty-handed.."

Exodus 34:20 "...and none shall appear before me empty handed"

Deuteronomy 16:16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

It is ingrained in us that when we want to honor someone we bring them a gift, an offering of honor. We all know that you shouldn't show up at a wedding, birthday, or anniversary party without a gift to honor the one for whom the party is given. Is it possible that we have missed our daily honoring of God by passing by Him daily empty handed with nothing to offer Him?

In these passages from the Old Testament, God clearly instructs that No One will appear before Him without a sacrificial offering. Why? He is worthy of one. It is easy for us to say to ourselves that was in the OT, God doesn't care about all of that stuff now, it's all good. That would not be wise at all as God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He wants us to bring Him offerings, the key precept to understand is what that looks like in 2010.

I believe that the offering he wants me to bring before Him each day is a celebration of His once and for all sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. If we are willing to pray" God, lead me today so that my life will bring you Glory. Thank you Spirit for being my guide in that process" and then simply following His lead, our offerings will satisfy God. Only Holy offerings satisfy a Holy God. Any other religious work, outside the initiation and activation of the Spirit, is not pleasing. Why? He is after those that seek, listen and obey by faith, powered by the Holy Spirit.

All of the other major religions in the world have a step by step plan for salvation that humans attempt to earn by works. Christ alone is the only one who says " You can't please me, only my perfect life is worthy to be judged not guilty, and my undeserving death an atoning sacrificial act serves as the due justice of man's sins." If we are honest, this frustrates us at many points because we think we have so much to offer God, as we live privileged life styles. We think surely there is something that I can do for Him in my strength. I struggle with wanting to lead and not follow as I am a pretty hard charging fellow.

My goal each day is to be in prayer before God, not empty handed, but both hands on the plow share only looking forward to the people God desires me to infect with a passion for Himself that He gave to me.