What We All Bring
I confess, I have always admired women who can sew, quilt, crochet, knit, and all those other wondrous gifts with yarn, needle, and thread. But to be honest, my attempts at such things have ended rather comically.
Sewing is definitely NOT a gift I have to offer.
And there have also been women who have commented on my musical ability and lamented that they can’t “carry a tune in a bucket.” But therein lies the beauty, ladies. Variety. Color. What God gives to one, He gives something entirely different to another. God loves the grand array of His creation offering back to Him what He gave them to bring…now THAT is worship!
Recently, I was struck by this very thing in the book of Exodus. It describes the people who would build the temple in which God would dwell.
“… and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.”
Exodus 35:21 (NIV)
“And he has given both him (Bezalel) and Oholiab…the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers… every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”
Exodus 35:34-36:1 (NIV)
“And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled workers…said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded… And so the people were restrained from bringing more…”
Exodus 36:3-6 (NIV)
Oh, the beauty of believers who bring their offering (whatever that may be) to the Lord for the work that He is calling us to do…
to sing
to play an instrument skillfully
to dance
to paint
to encourage
to teach
to admonish
to inspire
to write
to parent
to pray
to serve
to give
to photograph
so many others!
And in the New Testament…
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
My challenge (and hope) to you is this: Take what you have to bring and just bring it to the Lord.
He will use it. He is the one who gave it to you in the first place. When you do, watch the beauty of your offering unfold. You may not see it right away, but the blessings will be there. He is purposeful in everything He does.
The gifts and passions He put inside your heart and soul have been put there on purpose.
He created you (all of you) and takes great pleasure in the offering that only you can bring. So…bring it.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 (NIV)
The song I want to share with you this week is a corporate worship song and is from Passion, entitled, “Shout Hosanna.” I love this song because it is such a gathering type of song – a gathering of the Body of Christ together, with all our shapes and sizes, gifts and talents – and joining our praise and purpose under one banner: JESUS! Enjoy!
With joy for the journey,
Sarah
