For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Ex. 35
Whenever God spoke concerning the crafting of His tabernacle and its artifacts, He mentioned some form of the word, “skill”. Everyone who had a hand in the work had a skill for the work, as commanded and provided by God. Shoddy workmanship had no part in any of it. One thing I see in that is that God desires our best. I can’t help but wonder about Moses, though. If God desires our best, why did He call a man with a speech impediment to serve as His mouthpiece? The difference that I see between Moses’ leadership and the peoples’ offerings is the direction of the flow of service.
The people offered their gifts of skill and goods, all provided to them by God, to God to give Him honor and glory. Moses, on the other hand, served as a vessel, through which God worked to demonstrate His honor and glory. So…if we want to make a gift or offering to God, let it be the best of what He gives to us, whether possession or ability. However, when it comes to our obedient service to Him, don’t hold back even what we think is unworthy because His strength shines brightest through our weaknesses.
John 14
If we claim to love God but still care more about doing what we want to do than about changing our behavior in obedience to Him, we lie. Jesus makes our unity with God through Him by means of the Spirit quite clear. And we can’t be part of a team and do our own thing.
Prov. 11
“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.” (Pr. 11:24-25). The way to have more is not to keep and to store. The way to a prosperous life is not to protect oneself. Like that grain of wheat that Jesus mentioned in a recent reading, the one becomes more when it gives what it has. Scattering multiplies and giving returns.