Worship is costly

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Samuel 23:24–24:25 
Acts 3:1-26 
Psalm 123:1-4 
Proverbs 16:21-23

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

2 Samuel 24:24 "The king answered Araunah, 'No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.' David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for twenty ounces of silver."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The principle spoken in our Verse for today is transferable. That means that it powerfully applies to us today, too.

The story in which these words were uttered involves a sin. The people of Israel and their king had done things that brought God's discipline upon them. At the conclusion, King David wanted to worship his God by offering a sacrifice. The man who owned the property where David wanted to build the alter offered to give everything to David. But, the king didn't want to worship his God with stuff that was given to him. He wanted his worship to be something that "cost (him)" something.

We are an egocentric bunch, aren't we. Our world revolves around ourselves. And our worship isn't immune to this mindset. We want to worship God in our own way and we ultimately want it to satisfy us. Little do we think that our ultimate aim should be the satisfaction of our God.

So, instead of worship costing us something, we actually want it to reward us.

Now, understand this: Worship is intended to be satisfying to the worshiper. It is supposed to be enjoyable. But it's ultimate aim is not self-centered. It is supposed to be God-centered. And the greatest way that we can demonstrate God's worth in worship is not by saying, "What can worship do for me?" but "What can I give to make my worship enjoyable to God?"

It should cost us something.

What should it cost us? What can we give to our God that He doesn't already have?

Ourselves!

Worship that is pleasing to God is worship in which we offer up our lives. We offer up the moments of our days. We offer up everything that we claim as our own. And we do this as we submit to God's authority over our life, giving Him 'permission' to do with us as He pleases.

Are you willing to worship God in a way that costs you something? If not, it's not really biblical worship.