He gave you His best...

Today during my reading I was reminded of a sermon (more of a offering teaching) made by my Pastor. It was to say "What do we give God?". But it wasn't just about money as a lot of non-believers and a lot of believers think church offering and tithes are. No this time it was dealing with our expectancy of God and how we take problems and requests to him but what do we GIVE him.
   I'm challenging you to think of this one thing the rest of this week, HE GAVE HIS BEST.  He gave you his son (John 3:16). The famous verse that you see all over even at sporting events, that you heard in vacation bible school when you were a kid. But what does it really mean? If you're a parent, in which any day I'll be welcoming my third into this world, then you know how much a child means to their parents. The love and innocence that pours from them like a fountain, trusting in every move you make. A parents love for their child that "if anyone harms this kid I tell you what...". Protection, guidance, and love are all the things we think about providing for them. We never "really" think of giving them away, even though some times I tell ya..lol.. Why on earth would I give my child away??? To a less fortunate family?!? But what if they mistreat him/her? What if they don't know how to handle him/her? They don't know their dislikes and likes. They can't support my child the way I support him/her. They don't know what my child means to me! It's hard as I think of those questions and couple it with HE GAVE HIS BEST how he was treated, not only that but how we treat God post crucifix/resurrection.... Chew on that for a minute, it's hard to swallow, but let it digest... He gave his best and in return "What do we give God?"..
   We often don't want to go to church because "we're tired". We don't give tithes because "we can't afford it". We don't want to witness because "well God didn't call me to be an evangelist". We don't read our bible because "I really don't have the time". We find excuses of why we can't give God ANYTHING. Here it comes, BUT we are the first to call his name in vain when something doesn't go our way or the exact way we thought it should of. We are the first to say "I will do anything God you just take this burden from me!". "I will never do this again if you save me this one time!". And when it doesn't go your way God is the first to blame...you have free will right? God gave it to you to choose. You choose what you give God.
    It's not all gloom and doom he also gives us mercy. Mercy for things we do, forgiveness for things we've done. He gives us his word for the guidance so we don't have to over use those things as well, or use them AS much. We will fall, gauranteed, it's getting back up that's the problem. But in turn he gives us a way to get back up (the answers are in his word{bible}, promise). See he gave us EVERYTHING. But there is only one way to be able to receive those things.....by accepting that HE GAVE HIS BEST. Now the full version of what we've seen and heard our whole lives.
   John 3:16NKJV (RED LETTERS[Jesus said])- For God so Loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
   See he came to save you, he was given over to the world for you. God gave him to us, but for what purpose. to be crucified and pay the ultimate price for what we toy around with when things don't go our way?? See he was beaten, mistreated, downcast, excommunicated, plotted against, betrayed, starved, stabbed, and hung on a cross... That's not the way I would ever want my child to be treated if I gave them as a gift to someone...But he did it to save you, he did it all for you. Because God gave you Jesus and he fulfilled prophecy you are now able to call on God in the name of Jesus Christ and be forgiven.
  That being said let's all do a better job of giving God our best. Our best "Thank you"s when we open our eyes in the morning, that he gave us another day. Our best offerings above our required tithes. Our best attitude towards other and our attitude toward our own situations. Let's give God the best of our time, may it be in prayer or worship or getting into the word of God. Let's step our game up this year in giving to God instead of taking. God will reward us for giving not only to others but to him. He is faithful and I guarantee if you take these step towards him and being the person he's called you to be, he"ll prove himself true to you.
  It may seem hard at times but remember at these time that GOD GAVE HIS BEST.

Isaiah 53:5- But He was wounded for transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Hope this helps :)

mnixon33