Making A Response

As God’s people, were about to enter the land God had promised to them when He brought them out of slavery in Egypt, Moses, who had led them for 40 years was giving them some final instructions.  The people were to take the first portions of their harvest and their herds etc. and they were to set it before the Lord as an offering.  And then Moses said something that caught my attention.  He said,

… you shall make response before the Lord your God ..  Deuteronomy 26:5

I thought about that.  What does “make response” require?  Well, I think it means that we have to first notice the good things that God is doing and has done for us for so long.  And, it’s having a grateful heart for all of it, even in the face of challenges ahead prior to us fully realizing what God has promised. 

I don’t know about you but I’m about “getting things done” and finding the joy when I see the fulfillment of what’s been said or planned or worked at.  I’m a little less on the gratitude side when things are in process.

Now it’s true that the people of God were to go in and take possession of the good land and live in it and then make this response, this offering, so there was going to be a sense of something having come about that God had promised. 

But, in this day that is before them they are going to have to notice and store up memories and gratitude as they make the journey, face the battles, overcome the obstacles, work hard, and wait for things to come to completion.  They are going to have to hold onto all the little things in each “in between” day that add together until somewhere down the line everything comes together.  Not so easy to do and to maintain over the long haul is it?

The classic definition of faith, and that’s really what’s being asked here isn’t it, to have faith in all God is doing in our ordinary days and trust that he is working something good out of it all. 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

Heavenly Father, we live in what seem like ordinary in-between times.  Help us today to take notice of all the good things You are doing for us and blessing us with today that are helping us get through the challenges we currently face.  Give us faith to believe that as we trust You and walk with You that You are bringing us to a place where we will be able to look back on our journey with great gratitude for how You were doing things in amazing ways we weren’t able to recognize along the way. 

Help us to collect and store up our thanks so we can give a proper response to Your goodness.  You are faithful.  You are with us.  You are rewarding us as we seek You in this day.  What more could we ask for?  Amen

Well, whether today is just another step in a long journey for you or maybe you are at a place where you only hoped you could be and God has brought you here, let’s take a moment and make a response of praise and thanks to God who is making a treasure for us of this day.