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Monday, August 23, 2010 Read: "Come-all of you who have skills-come and make everything that God has commanded: The Dwelling with its tent and cover, its hooks, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases; the Chest with its poles, the Atonement-Cover and veiling curtain; the Table with its poles and implements and the Bread of the Presence; the Lampstand for giving light with its furnishings and lamps and the oil for lighting; the Altar of Incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense; the screen for the door at the entrance to The Dwelling; the Altar of Whole-Burnt-Offering with its bronze grate and poles and all its implements; the Washbasin with its base; the tapestry hangings for the Courtyard with the posts and bases, the screen for the Courtyard gate; the pegs for The Dwelling, the pegs for the Courtyard with their cords; the official vestments for ministering in the Holy Place, the sacred vestments for Aaron the priest and for his sons serving as priests." Exodus 35:10-19 (The Message) Think About: OK, so let's see. To make all this stuff, Moses needed some carpenters, metal workers, chemists, seamstresses, and probably some workers we don't even know about who had skills needed during the bronze age that are no longer needed. We know the Israelites were adept at making pyramids, so there were probably plenty of masons around. If God asked us today to build the Tabernacle, we'd buy the building materials, hire the contractors and subcontractors, and purchase all the furnishings, including the vestments for the pastors, from a church supply house. All we'd have to do is raise a lot of money. Then what? Do we hire the staff to do all the stuff that has to be done in order to do the church's work? In addition to the pastors and existing support staff, we'd have to hire singers, musicians, ushers, teachers, childcare workers - the list goes on and on. Why, we'd even have to hire writers to write devotionals. But it doesn't work that way, does it? There are some things in this modern day that God calls us to do that cost us nothing more than our time and talents. Just as he gives us treasure with which to support the work of the church, he also gives us time and talents that we can contribute. And there is so much that needs to be done! We have been learning all this month about the work that God has called us to do, both within and beyond the church. We, as his children, as members of his church family, have been blessed with everything we need to accomplish his goals, from building disciples to building the Kingdom. So come - all of you who have skills or time or talents - come and do everything that God has commanded. Pray this Prayer: What I love about your church, Lord, is that there is something for each of us to do, something that fulfills us and blesses us while we are blessing others. Lord, show me what you have called me to do, whether it is ushering at one of our worship services or teaching a Sunday School class or becoming part of one of our outreach ministries. Even if I don't have much treasure to give, I still have an abundance of your love to share with others. Amen. Written by the St. Luke's Writing Team You are invited and encouraged to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with the spiritual practices at the Devotional Blog. We are on this journey together and your words may help another along the way. Having problems viewing this page? Click here to view it online. Click here to be removed from the Daily Devotions Daily Devotion Archive | St. Luke's Weekly Update © 2010 St. Luke's United Methodist Church at Windermere |
