I am looking solely at the portion of scripture found in 2 Samuel 24:18-25 and the story is a powerful expression of how I need to come before God with my spiritual life.
I try and speak to the spirit of generosity and unselfishness as much as I can. I speak about it because I want to push myself to practice it in whatever I do. Here is David making it happen. He is giving with generosity and he is honouring God. In my studies I found out that Arauah’s threshing-floor was actually the site for the first and second temple is is now the current site of the Dome. Very interesting for those who talk about giving as an investment.
In my walk with God, I am challenged to turn my mind from myself to God – to fill myself with who God is and to express that to others with love and passion making it feel honourable from me and honouring God – in other words, blessed in blessing Him. There is a resolve not to offer something to God that did not cost me nothing – David’s exact expression.
When I have my quiet moments, I ask myself how I can glorify God? What are the ways and methods of honouring Him that are within my power and control? I think there are two questions that come up when I think about the answer to those questions – one is how much can I do? and the other is how little may I do? One is when I think of duty and other other is when I think of security. Both are based on different principles and have a different endgame. One comes from gratitude, love, reverence and passion, the other from simple interest.
I do not just want to be satisfied that I am “saved.” I want to have passion to honour God and love truth not simply profiting from only believing. I want to consider God as most worthy of my passion, love and honour.
Finally, learn hence the duty of activity, liberality in the service of God, and for the benefit of your fellow sinners. It is a Scriptural precept–“Honour the Lord with thy substance.” He who has a religion which costs him nothing has a religion that is worth nothing. – H. Hughes
Father, David had a choice, but really he did not. He loved You so much that he was determined to show You how much. Expressing love to You has become predictable in my life – much too predictable. I need to step up and be more passionate in my expressions of blessing You. While I am determined to be a lover of truth there needs to be expressions of love that I return to You. I pray that my quiet times would have more of those in them and that You will teach me how to express my love to You.
Sixty-six books in a year 