PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Exodus 35-36
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them brought an offering.” (Exodus 35:21)
It has always been God’s desire to work with humans as partners.
In today’s reading we see how God gifts the people, and the people willingly respond.
Eventually Moses had to stop them because they were giving too much (Exodus 36:6-7).
When people’s hearts are moved, when people are willing, amazing things can happen.
The reason we do not see more evidence of God’s kingdom is not God or the kingdom.
God is still compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Through Jesus God surrenders fully to us, and wants us to surrender fully back.
The struggles and weaknesses in the Jesus movement lie in God’s covenant partners.
Our hearts are not always moved, nor are we always willing to use the Spirit’s gifts.
Are you putting your heart into living WITH, LIKE and FOR God and Jesus?
Are you seeing amazing things happen as you invest yourself in serving the Lord?
The Lord is asking us to help him build his home on earth, as it is in heaven.
I believe if we offered ourselves like this, the Lord would have more than enough!
Is my heart moved to respond, and am I willingly partnering with him?
PRAYER
Lord, following you is about more than being saved. You have saved and enabled me to be a willing and gifted partner. Help me to offer my whole heart to you and your kingdom purpose!
“everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord”
“people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”
Keyword: willing! They brought goods and gifts of special services/talents – willingly. They gave and gave willingly – their hearts were in the giving – that’s what counted. And God blessed them for their heart. That’s what counts. May heart has to be in the giving – in my service – in anything I do as I give it to the Lord! Give with right intent – not selfish motive or tradition or obligation.
The people were restrained from bringing more because there was enough for the building of the tabernacle. People eager to give to the Lord. If His people today would have the same spirit of giving, the church of today would also have more than enough. This is His world and we are to be His instruments of peace. We need to give of ourselves willingly for and to His kingdom work. Our hearts and our hands need to serve Him. He needs to be first. All too often we just give God our leftovers. When the JOY of the Lord God is our strength, we will put Jesus first.
1 All that I am I owe to Thee;
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me.
I give my Maker thankful praise,
whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
2 Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
my life in all its perfect plan
was ordered ere my days began.
3 Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
more precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
awaking I am still with Thee.