Thursday Devotional - Ready for a Challenge?

We recently received news that most of us are to work from home beyond the 4 weeks, until May 15th! When I left work on March 13^th and picked up James from school that afternoon, I thought it was going to be 3 weeks of a different work and school schedule and then we would be back to normal. However, it keeps getting extended. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re to stay home beyond May 15^th!!!

I miss my normal routine, my desk setup and ergonomic chair, the extra steps I get walking halfway across the building for water or the restroom 😊, etc. As challenging as it might be, though, I know I’m thankful we have jobs that are possible to do from home!

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, most of our challenges are small compared to all the challenges and hardships Paul faced. He readily and willingly faced challenges.

Acts 21:10-14                       ¹⁰ After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Are you and I ready and willing to continue to persevere in our new working environment challenges without complaining?

What about work for the name of Jesus? Are you and I ready and willing to take up new challenges for the benefit of His people and His name? What about leading a virtual Bible study, virtual prayer group, calling or writing to fellow church members (to provide a listening ear or to encourage), or collecting prayer requests (from co-workers/friends/family) and spending dedicated time in prayer for them? I think some of you are already doing these!

As Luke said, may “the Lord’s will be done” and may I readily and willingly participate!

Alice

Stop! You're giving too much!

Last week we saw how God commanded the Israelites to give willingly to the work of building the tabernacle. They weren't forced to give, though. Well, look what happened!

Exodus 36:3-7 ³ They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. ⁴ So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

⁶ Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, ⁷ because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Wow! Can you imagine being told to stop giving??!! They were restrained from giving!!!

I'm a part of a ministry that holds Bible study classes all over the world. We have been studying Exodus this year, and next year we are adding a brand new Revelation study which has taken years to prayerfully put together. This summer, the head leader for each class (1200 in total) will meet in Dallas for a week of training before starting the Revelation classes in the fall. In order to cover the cost of renting out a convention center and hotels, there was a special fund setup. We could willingly designate gifts to this special project. However, we were just told to stop giving to that fund! The necessary funds were already more than enough to cover the rest of the expected expenses! God had moved in the hearts of generous class members all over the world to give more than enough and way ahead of schedule, just like the Israelites!

Where else could God be commanding you and me to give generously and willingly until He tells us to stop?

It could be giving money to church and other godly ministries.

It could be opening our home weekly to those who need a place to stay or a home-cooked meal.

It could be offering to regularly watch someone's children.

It could be sharing our lunch break.

Alice

Thurs Devo - Giving commanded, but not forced

Exodus 35:4-9 & 20-24

⁴ Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ⁵ From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; ⁶ blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ⁷ ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; ⁸ olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; ⁹ and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece…

²⁰ Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, ²¹ 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. ²² All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. ²³ Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them. ²⁴ Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.

Even though the Israelites were transient desert wanderers at the time, God commanded them to give of what they had to make the tabernacle, all the tabernacle articles, and the priestly garments. He didn’t force them, though. He let them give out of a willing heart.

He does the same today. He commands us to give, but He doesn’t force us. What are you and I willingly giving to God’s work? Sometimes the easiest thing is to give money. We often give out of our excess or what we think we can live without. However, the Israelites gave up items from every part of their lives, not just money. They gave up valuable possessions and materials.

Will you and I ask God what He wants from us?

We can ask Him what our church or another ministry around us needs. Then, we can look for His direction.

When God shows us, will you and I willingly give to provide for His work through that ministry?   

Alice