January 18, 2025 Devo

Have you ever had your kids (or anyone) say the right thing but with the wrong tone of voice? Such as when you hear them say something they shouldn’t have said or done something they shouldn’t have done. You tell them to apologize, and they do. But their response of, “I’m sorry!” is laced with anger, insubordination, or patronizing tones. Is that apology acceptable? No, of course not. Why? They said what you wanted them to say. It’s not acceptable because, while their words were saying one thing, their tone was saying another. The apology came from obedience and compliance. Where it didn’t come from was the heart.
The heart is what gives our gifts, apologies, and compliments value. No one wants to hear an apology that drips with sarcasm. No one wants to receive a compliment that is condescending or insincere. And no one wants to receive a gift that is given out of obligation or with ulterior motives. Not even God.
Way back at the beginning with Cain and Abel, God made it clear that what He wanted was hearts that were right with Him. God rejected Cain’s offering, not because of the “what,” but because of the “how.” Cain offered it with disobedience in his life and evil in his heart. He gave his offering because he was SUPPOSED to give one, not because it came from a heart of gratitude and humility. Offerings were to be an act of surrender before God. It signifies that we recognize who God is and what God does for us. It is a statement that we know that all that we have and all that we are belongs to God. God can’t be bought or bribed. He can’t be fooled or tricked. The offering itself means nothing to God. It’s not the “what.” It’s the “how.”
This is a great point of reflection for us. Why do we pray? To get what we want from God or to have an honest moment of pouring our hearts to Him and honoring Him? Why do we open our Bibles? To make God think we’re obedient followers, to make others think we’re studious Christians, or to truly try to hear from God so we can do and be who He wants us to do and be? And why do we tithe or give offerings to God? Because we believe God will bless us and give us more or out of hearts of thankfulness because God has already given us more than we deserve? Our actions, gifts, and times of worship don’t mean anything to God if we’re not doing them for the right reasons and with the right spirit. It’s not the size of our gifts that impress God. It’s the size of our hearts. It’s not the “what,” it’s the “how.” That’s God’s Word for you today.