Corona Devo 263
Sinking my teeth into a delicious maple cream stick doughnut, my first thought was --could this day kick off any better? And then I wondered how the baker could make something so good? I bake, but not like this.
And lately with in-school instruction for our kids, and then online-instruction for them, I have developed a deeper appreciation for teachers. I've always had gratitude for all that teachers invest in our children, but the complications and challenges of Corona have amped that up, and they have risen to the challenge. Teaching is a special gift that these men and women give to our kids and us, and the world.
As we played a family trivia game the other day, I was impressed by how bright our nephew is. I knew he was fun-loving and patient, but as he rattled off math, science, and history facts I realized he has worked to achieve intellectual gifts that beautifully accompany his easy-going disposition. Knowledge and attitude are gifts!
We all have gifts. It's often quite easy to see them in others, and too-often, we default into wishing that we could have what others have. But the Lord has specifically chosen each of us to be-developed-in and to-share different gifts. We are each unique (thank goodness!) and so are our gifts, given to us by God.
God has personally appointed you and me into different roles and to reach out to/serve different people. We each have our own spheres of influence, and God gives us our gifts, not to bury them, but to bring them!
In the scripture reading today, the Lord reminds us that I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen (Exodus 31:6). That's us! My "special skill" is unique from your "special skill", and we are all gifted craftsmen for Christ, whether our gift is baking, teaching, knowledge, good-attitude, or any myriad of other qualities that the Lord bestows on us to put to use for His glory.
In Exodus 31, God was using the building of His Tabernacle/Ark of the Covenant, etc. to demonstrate (and require) His unique giftings to people. The terms and gifts may sound distant or foreign, but we are not building a structure for worship today like they were....or wait---are we? Our lives as Christ-followers should have parameters and structure to create a Holy place for God in our days, our lives, and in our hearts.
Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. 4 He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. 5 He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!
6 “And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make: 7 the Tabernacle; the Ark of the Covenant; the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement; all the furnishings of the Tabernacle; 8 the table and its utensils; the pure gold lampstand with all its accessories; the incense altar; 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils; the washbasin with its stand; 10 the beautifully stitched garments—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests; 11 the anointing oil; the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. The craftsmen must make everything as I have commanded you.” ~Exodus 31:1-11
There were specific needs that were to be met by people serving with their unique gifts. It is the same for us today as it was for the Israelites wandering the desert. Not all of us are commissioned to build the table and its utensils, or to make the beautifully stitched garments, but where would the Tabernacle and the priests have been if people with those gifts had not stepped forward and up to use them in serving God? Today, I am not a doughnut baker, and nor am I a teacher, but I am blessed by those stepping forward and stepping up to use their unique gifts in these areas.
God made us each different and God made us each wonderful. We would be sick of eating maple cream stick doughnuts if we all were experts at making them, but we aren't. We are all wonderful at doing different things. Many people say they don't know what their gifts are, but Yes, you do. What fulfills you? What makes you feel good when you are creating it, baking it, singing it, writing it, blessing others by it? That's the thing that God gifted you with. Stop saying that you don't know what it is, and start using it to glorify Him.
Just as the Lord spoke to the Israelites about using their gifts--He speaks to us today. Listen to Him. And get busy doing what you were created to!
Then the Lord said to us , 2 “Look, I have specifically chosen you
3 I have filled you with the Spirit of God, giving you great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. 4 You are a master craftsman, expert in working with .
I raise a maple cream stick doughnut in toast to our specifically chosen gifts and also to God, who gifted doughnut bakers, and all of us.
What makes you feel good when you are doing it and blessing others by it?
Get busy doing it!
Blessings,
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