Convinced in Your Heart

“Let whoever is of a generous heart bring the Lord’s offering.” - Exodus 35:5  
  
What motivates you to give? Is it obligation or a deep sense of gratitude? In Exodus, we see that only those whose hearts were stirred, those convinced of God’s goodness, brought their offerings for the construction of the sanctuary. This wasn’t about pressure or guilt, it was about conviction.

Think about who God was speaking to. The Israelites had been enslaved for over 400 years. They knew what it meant to live with nothing, to be denied resources, opportunities, and even basic necessities.  

Yet, after their miraculous escape from Egypt, God asked them to bring valuable offerings—gold, silver, precious gems, and fine fabrics. At first, it seems unreasonable. How could people who had nothing for so long be expected to give so much?
 
But here’s the key: they were no longer slaves. They were *formerly* enslaved people, and God had brought them out of bondage. He had opened the Red Sea, led them through the wilderness, and protected them from their enemies.  

God had transformed their reality, providing for them in ways they couldn’t have imagined. Because they were convinced of God’s power, presence, and protection, their hearts were stirred to give back to the God who had done so much for them.
 
The Israelites weren’t just convinced by the miracles they had witnessed, they were convinced by God’s faithfulness in their lives. They knew if it hadn’t been for the Lord, they wouldn’t have survived. That conviction led to their generosity, creating a culture of giving that went beyond what was required.

What about you? Are you convinced in your heart about what God has done for you? Remember the doors He’s opened, the ways He’s made, the valleys He’s brought you through.  

When you recognize just how far He’s brought you, generosity flows naturally. Let your heart be stirred by the memory of His faithfulness and give with the confidence that there’s always more than enough in God’s hands.