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Sunday, November 4th (Day Twenty-One)

Read:
2 Samuel 24:18-25

"I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing."

Reflect:
Have you ever noticed how the richer or more famous someone is, the more gifts he receives? I once heard an interview with Michael Irvin, the former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, where he said that whenever he was spotted in a restaurant in Dallas, someone, either anonymously or in exchange for an autograph, always paid his bill. Michael Irvin could afford to pay not only his own bill but those of the entire restaurant, but there he was, receiving yet another free meal.

In his day, David was a bigger star than Michael Irvin. He was the king of Israel, the hero of many battles, and the spiritual leader of an entire nation. So when he came to build an altar to the Lord on Araunah's property, it was only natural that Araunah would offer it to him for free. David, however, would not accept Araunah's gift, as gracious and well intended as it was. He insisted that he pay for the property because this altar was for the Lord. David would not offer a gift to God that cost him nothing.

Here we see King David acting as a type of Christ. Christ's sacrifice on the cross cost him everything so that we could have the free gift of eternal life. What about your gifts? When you give to the church, is it always a budgeted item - perhaps what is left over or calculated to meet but never exceed what you can write off in taxes? Have you ever truly given to the Lord something that cost you - a vacation, a new car, or an upgrade to your home? This type of giving is countercultural and most people will think you are crazy if you do it. However, how can we ever exceed Christ in giving, and what are the possibilities for Houston if we truly give that which costs us?

Apply:

1. Think about your pattern of giving. How calculated is it to ensure that you do not feel it financially?
2. How does this passage challenge you to give that which costs you something? How, like David, can you see this as an act of worship to Christ who gave himself up for you?

Pray:

1. That the Lord would open your eyes to the incalculable gift the Lord Jesus Christ gave you when he died for your sins upon the cross.
2. That, as a church, we would adopt the mindset of David not to give to the Lord that which costs us nothing.