Devotion - Giving to the Giver

...Whoever is of a willing heart... Exodus 35:5

Moses calls the Israelites to give to the making of the Tabernacle and the articles in it. The people weren't forced into giving a particular amount, but were called to give as much as they wanted. This resulted in them giving too much, so much that they had to be restrained from giving any further!(Exodus 36:5) Though they were a group of unfaithful and rebellious people, in this part of the Bible, they set for us an example of giving.

They saw the faithfulness of God, His glory and holiness, and experienced His forgiveness. God had every reason to wipe them off the earth for idol worship a few chapters before. But He didn't. And here they were, being given a chance to respond to the love they were shown.

Living on this side of the cross, we now have seen and experienced more of His love and faithfulness than those in the Old Testament. The Cross stands as the proof, where the most perfect free will offering was laid down. The baby born in the manger, years later, gave up His own very life, as a rejected, lonely, thirsty, and naked man. He didn't have to be the sacrifice, but in His love for us, He wanted to be. He did that, so we could go to the feet of the cross and lay down the burden and weight of our own sins. He could have wiped us off this planet. But instead, he chose to wipe away our sins, guilt, and shame when He was crushed in our place.(Is 53:5)

He gave us a new life and purpose we didn't deserve.

We are called to respond to this love. Are we going to continue holding on to our idols, or are we going to give Him our all? There is nothing in between.