Typically a devotional post is on a verse from that week's provided passages. This devotional goes back a couple weeks. If you have been reading through the end of Exodus and any of Leviticus you probably are finding it to be tough reading. It is tough! To grasp it's meaning requires of you an understanding of this ancient Jewish culture. Nonetheless, every so often though there are some verses that are very easily understood and can speak simply and powerfully to our lives. Exodus 36:1 is an example.
"Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded." Exodus 36:1
I love the reminder in these verses that God is the one who has created us. It is He who gives us skill, intelligence, and knowledge to be able to do His work. God has graciously made you who you are. He has given you skills to be developed, intelligence to be honed, and knowledge to be further built upon. Why has God done this? He has given you these things because he desires that you will honor Him with your skills, intelligence, and knowledge. These men, Bezalel and Oholiab, are not unique just because they possess these skills, they are unique because they are using them "in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded." Do you daily recognize that the talents and skills you have are 100% a gift from God? Have you laid them before the LORD and said, 'I want these gifts to be used in accordance to what you have commanded'? God will use those gifts in remarkable ways as we surrender ourselves to Him. The amazing part is when we surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ we will find infinitely more delight in using those gifts because people will be blessed by them and God glorified through them.
One of our captains, Anna, recently wrote about this in a devotional. We have been studying the book of Esther and how this young woman, Esther, was gifted by God so that she might be used to save her people. In reflecting upon the gifts God gave Esther this captain wrote, "Even though I haven't seen beauty on an equal level as other 'gifts' like patience or excellence in sports or leadership, it really is. Even beauty is not our own, and that helped Esther to get in the position of Queen." Esther's gifts were used to honor God in some significant ways. You can read about it in the book of Esther chapter 4.
We want to encourage you today to thank God for the gifts, skills, intelligence, and knowledge you have been given. Then surrender yourself to the Lord Jesus seeking for those gifts to be used in a way that God is honored. Remember "the glory goes to God".
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