Day 19: A Gift

Do you ever wonder why the one thing God really wants is you? Your life, your heart, everything about you! He wants us so badly that he gave with unmatched extravagance to make it happen.

Really God, you want my life?

For full disclosure I should probably get a “Buyer Beware” tattoo or something. When it comes to the gift of God in the person of Jesus, I feel exactly like the unscrupulous salesman should feel after getting over on an unsuspecting patron.

When someone gives you an amazing gift, it is only natural to want to match their generosity or thoughtfulness. The woman in Mark 14:3 had received something from Jesus, and she was making an attempt to give back her very best.

As you read on in Mark, you see that the rest of the dinner guests were quite upset about the “waste.” It doesn’t specifically say so, but it is easy to imagine the guests’ indignation being a religious cover for their own feelings of inadequacy.

More than anything I want to reciprocate God’s extravagant giving… but I can’t.

Even though this woman had given her very best, a perfume that may have cost a year’s wages, it was not enough to match his gift. Was Jesus concerned about this? No!

Has this Daniel Fast been your attempt to give God a gift? I don’t know that I have looked at it that way until reading this morning’s devotion, but in a way it is. I have tried over these last 19 days to give God the best that I could, but even my best could never match what he has done for me.

Have you felt that what you’ve given over these 19 days isn’t good enough?

Have you compared yourself to others?

Have you felt indignation?

Have your actions and words always matched up with a fasted life?

I for one could answer all those questions in a way that makes my gift seem less than adequate.

Regardless of your own perceived success, have you been doing the Daniel fast in faith, to the best of your ability? God takes our imperfect attitudes, our imperfect words, our imperfect actions, and when mixed with faith makes them a sweet smelling aroma to himself.

This is God’s nature, what he takes pleasure in. Had you chosen not to give these days, your time, your energy, your best, he could not have done what he’s done in your life.

This is giving God what he really wants, a chance to work in your life.

This is putting your trust in him, and giving back to him, extravagantly!

~Tadd