Deuteronomy 16:16b-17: "No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you."
The context of the passage above deals with the mandate by God for the Jewish people to come prepared to present offerings to God during the memorial feasts. Everyone was expected to bring an offering, for all people had been blessed by the LORD. All were to present gifts to the LORD to express thanksgiving. No one was to appear before the LORD empty-handed.
When we begin to think of God's ultimate gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, we realize that there is no greater blessing that has ever been given or ever will be given to us. For God to turn away His wrath for our sin through Jesus' atoning sacrifice (I John 2:2) and for God to adopt us as part of His royal family (John 1:12) is the greatest gift that could ever be received. We have nothing adequate to return in thanksgiving for such an act of loving sacrifice by God; nonetheless, we are mandated to give in accordance with the blessing we have received from the LORD. The most that we can give back to God in thanksgiving are our very lives; for this reason, we would do well to submit our lives to His Lordship.
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