Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "God the Craftsman" for Monday, 27 October 2014 - Read Exodus 35:30-35

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "God the Craftsman" for Monday, 27 October 2014 - Read Exodus 35:30-35 Bezalel and Oholiab
30-35 Moses told the Israelites, “See, God has selected Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He’s filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and know-how for making all sorts of things, to design and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to carve stones and set them; to carve wood, working in every kind of skilled craft. And he’s also made him a teacher, he and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He’s gifted them with the know-how needed for carving, designing, weaving, and embroidering in blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics, and in fine linen. They can make anything and design anything.”
We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.(Ephesians 2:10 (NIV))
I watched the craftsman as he made a beautiful piece of furniture in his workshop. He took his time, carefully making each cut and standing back now and then to look at his work. Some mass-produce their work and make money, but the master craftsman concerns himself with creating a thing of beauty and integrity. He may never be rich, but he has great satisfaction.
God chose Bezalel and Oholiab to make artistic designs for the Tabernacle. God filled them with skill, ability and knowledge. God is a craftsman whose divine spirit gave these men the ability to make beautiful things. The beautiful furnishings of the Tabernacle were unseen by most people, but God saw and was pleased.
The apostle Paul says that we believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. And God never does a shoddy job. The hand of the Craftsman is at work in us and through us, shaping us to be more like Christ.
The Author: Marion Turnbull (Manchester, England)
Thought for the Day: Even when we can’t see it, God is working in our lives.
Prayer: Because it is you, dear God, at work in us, we know we can do the works you have prepared for us to do. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:2-4, KJV). Amen.
Prayer focus: Furniture makers
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