What can we possibly give God since He created us? It seems absurd to try to give God something. So what can we give God when He doesn’t need anything yet is everything and has everything? (Psalm 50:10, 89:11).
Simply, our hearts.
God desires to dwell with His people – to have fellowship with the people He created. But our hearts are wicked so how can He dwell with us (Jeremiah 17:9)?
It’s about the posture of our heart.
It is recorded in Exodus chapter 35 that Moses gathered all of the Israelites to give them specific instructions from the Lord. These directions were not suggestions but commands on how to properly build a place that the people could dwell with God – in the Tabernacle. After the people listened to Moses, they departed to either do or not do what the Lord commanded – according to their heart attitude. Then at the end of Exodus chapter 35 through chapter 40, we see God’s masterplan becoming a reality.
God’s commands were to all, but only those with a certain kind of heart pose responded in obedience. Regardless of the attitude of their heart, God had given all of them gifts that included skills, intelligence, knowledge and abilities. The gifts that God gave an individual Israelite was not to be held onto nor not used, but given up for the community so that a place was built where they all could come together and worship God. If they had a proud heart, they would not respond to God’s call. We see that only those whose hearts are humble respond in obedience to what God commands – thus the position of the heart God wants.
There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Our hearts are either proud or humble. God is still calling out to every individual and only those whose hearts are generous, stirred, moved, willing, inspired by the Holy Spirit will step out and do all that He created them to do (James 4:10, Ephesians 2:10).
The veil was torn in the tabernacle when Jesus Christ hung on the cross and declared, “It is finished” (Matthew 27:51, John 19:30). These three words meant that people no longer needed to go to a physical place to dwell with God, but that God would enter them – in essence, God enters only into those hearts that are humble – fully surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus. This means that starting at the moment of surrender and throughout all of eternity, God will dwell with that individual, never to be separated (Romans 8:38-39).
God is calling you to humble yourself and give him all of your heart. God has gifted you with specific skills, intelligence, knowledge and abilities (Exodus 35:31). You are not to keep these gifts to yourself (or “hide it under a bushel – NO!”) but to share them with others so that God is glorified (Matthew 5:16).
So, what is the posture of your heart?
Dear Lord, All you ever want from us is our heart so that we can fellowship with you. You want to change our hearts to reflect more of the image of your Beloved Son. Please stir up our hearts and move in our spirits to be generous and willing to obey all of your commands. May we bring you anything and everything – whatever you ask. You have called each of us by name. You have filled each of us with your Holy Spirit and given us skills, intelligence, knowledge and abilities to do all that you created us to do. You have inspired each of us to teach others. May we be of an encouragement to others to help them do the work that you have created them to do. Let our hearts be so stirred, moved, willing, and generous that you tell us that we brought you more than enough as you said to the humble obedient Israelites thousands of years ago. In Jesus precious name, amen.