But he said to him, “Behold, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes true. So now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us the way we should go.” Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
1 Samuel 9:6-7
Father God, in the world I live in everything is transactional, tit-for-tat, you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Rarely are things done because I want to be blessing to someone or out of the goodness of my heart. Instead, we approach it from the vantage point of benefiting ourselves, getting for ourselves the hook up either now or at some future time, when we remind the recipient that they owe us. Even as I look at Saul’s response to his servant saying let’s go to God’s man for help, his mind goes quickly to the idea of it being some sort of transaction.
If I am honest with myself, I can be that way when it comes to going to You. I find myself saying, “Lord, if you will do this for me I will do this for you. If you bless me this one time by giving me this one thing, I promise I will do this or that.” I treat You like a Walmart cashier ringing up the total of my purchase! And if I am honest with myself, there is nothing I can give or pay to You for what You do and have done for me! They call that bankrupt!
My soul rejoices because I don’t have to pay for it, I don’t have to reach into my pocket, or go in the back of the restaurant and clean the dishes! Jesus paid what I could not pay, purchasing for me what my empty pockets could not buy. In Him and by Him I am not in a transactional relationship with You. Instead I am Your child – Your baby – and I can come to You for whatever I need, not believing that I have to bring something in exchange for Your blessing. No. It has all been secured for me, purchased by Him! Hallelujah! I can come to You, with empty hands, expecting to be received, heard, and cared for by You!
Continue to remind me of this glorious reality in my life. Remind me that I today and everyday have direct access to You, and that You beckon me to come just as I am. All You require is my heartfelt submission to the Lordship of Your Son, the direction of Your Spirit, and surrender to You. That I bring to You today and everyday! I so love You! Thank You! Amen!