Day Four - Thursday June 16
Everyone whose heart was prompted gave…

Let’s go back to the Levites again. Another duty that they had was to offer sacrifices to the Lord.  They would do this on behalf of other people and for themselves.  These sacrifices were sometimes to make atonement for sin, and sometimes just to bring joy to God’s heart.  The point of a sacrifice is that it cost the person giving it something. It wasn’t something “left-over”. 

You know something interesting I found out this week? Another definition of “to consecrate” is ‘to fill your hand’ as with an offering or gift!  In

1 Chronicles 29: 1-9 David spoke to all the people of Israel as they were gathered and encouraged them to help his son Solomon with the costs of building the Temple.  He said this offering is for God not for us.  And then he went on to say, “I will start by giving my personal treasures of gold and silver besides what I have already given for this work.” He goes on to ask. Now who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord? In other words he is asking the people to show their desire to separate themselves to God by making a statement of giving. This would show that God and His work was more important than their possessions. 

As a part of this time of consecration we are giving the opportunity for everyone to ask himself or herself, “Is there something that God wants me to sacrifice?”  What is important to you?

The leaders at Watchmen have done like David and gone first and given as God prompted them to.

It will be different for each of you. If God prompts you to give some money for the One Heart Gathering, it will go towards helping people get to the One Heart Gathering. The important part is that it comes from your heart NOT because you have to but because it is an outward expression of what is in your heart.  (Read Exodus 35 20-29)

-Joshua giving his new shoes to the needy in Israel at the Bridges for Peace Center.

Dear God, I love you with all my heart and as an expression of that love for you and my desire to let you have control of all I have, I want to give you________. Thank you that all I have comes from you and that I can trust you totally. Amen.