Your Best

'“What sort of guilt offering should we send?”
they asked. And they were told, “Since the plague
has struck both you and your five rulers,
make five gold tumors and five gold rats,
just like those that have ravaged your land. ' 1 Samuel 6:4 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1SA.6.4

I read this verse last night and got a little bit of a chuckle.
The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant
because Israel went to war without God. They had NO IDEA
what they had gotten themselves into. SO, they started developing
tumors and rats infested their towns. God was going to let them
know HE WAS GOD and the gods of the Philistines were NOT God.
The Philistines had been ruthless in their attacks on Gods people.
Sure God was upset with Israel, but letting the Philistines MOCK
the God of the Universe just could NOT happen.

It took the Philistines 7 months to figure out they had made a huge
mistake and they needed to take action. But, again, I was shocked
at what they chose to "sacrifice" to the Lord. What were they thinking?

"Five Gold Tumors, Five God Rats?"

Are you kidding me? Is this the BEST they had?

As the Israelites knew, God demands REAL sacrifice in our lives.
God demands UNBLEMISHED sacrifices. He demands the
BEST OF THE BEST. The Philistines sent a TOKEN sacrifice to God.
God wants REAL Sacrifice. He wants to BE OUR GOD. He wants
us to genuinely love him.

Our dedication and commitment to the Lord must be real. God
can not be mocked. We can't just SAY we worship the Lord while
not spending time in his word, in regular, deep prayer, or REAL
worship. The Lord knows our heart. He knew the Philistines were
just going through the paces. He knew they had NOT come to
worship the Lord, they only recognized A God among their Gods.
They did not recognize THE GOD as the one and only God, creator
of the universe. God set the greatest example. He gave his BEST
when he sent Jesus to die for you and your sins. He gave his best.
Should we do LESS?

Please search your heart. Ask THE LORD to enter into your life.
Dedicate your life to serving him and growing in your knowledge
of the Creator of all things. Give the Lord YOUR BEST. Give him
ALL THAT YOU ARE. WORSHIP ONLY HIM. MAKE YOUR LIFE
A LIVING SACRIFICE!!!!!!!!!!