29th. June. 2021. Daily Devotion.
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, ‘See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills – 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers – all of them skilled workers and designers. Exodus 35:30-35
The Holy Spirit supplies natural talents, the learning of skills, and many kinds of spiritual gifts for the benefit of all.
At the time of Moses, the Lord filled Bezalel with the Spirit, wisdom, knowledge, and many skills to work with metal, stone, and wood in all kinds of artistic crafts. God also filled Bezalel and others with the ability to teach so that many more could become skilled workers and designers. All of these gifts can be used to give glory to God.
God also gifts some people to be administrators, in order to guide and lead others in the church and in the surrounding community, to build ministries and structures and systems that can benefit everyone. All of these things can be developed and used to bring glory to God.
To some people the Lord also gives gifts of healing and miracles. And more often he gives gifts of learning and discovery so that people can learn how to make medicine and discover cures for diseases. The benefits of medical science and technology have been able to help billions of people around the world, and for all of these good things we can give glory to God.
In addition, God gives gifts of encouragement and mercy for serving others in many ways (see Romans 12:6-8). In the church and in society, mentors, counsellors, and service workers of all kinds provide help and meet the needs of other people in countless ways. Use your gifts and To God be the glory! D. Deppe.
Prayer
Lord, you have given all of us gifts. May we use them to honour you and to bless others. Amen.
Prayer of Penitence
Almighty Father, I enter your presence confessing the things I try to conceal from you and the things I try to conceal from others. I confess the heartbreak, worry, and sorrow I have caused, that make it difficult for others to forgive me, the times I have made it easy for others to do wrong, the harm I have done that makes it hard for me to forgive myself. Lord have mercy and forgive me, in the name of my Lord Christ, by your grace and love; and help me to grow in faith, that I might not repeat these sins. Amen.
For Those Who Suffer
God of time and of eternity, in your hands you hold the souls of the righteous, and in your heart, there is room for all people; shine forth upon all who are tried in the furnace of suffering and illness, and especially on those for whom I pray today; in your grace and mercy may we know that you watch over us; bring us at the last to abide with you in love; I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Providence of Companionship
Thank You, Lord, for the joy of companionship and thank You, that You have placed dear friends and Christian companions in each of our lives. What a joy it is to meet and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
But thank You also Lord, that we have such a wonderfully faithful friend in Jesus, who is our never-failing companion, and Who has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Thank You, that He is with us in every season of life and will never fail us, even during those times when we are forgetful or foolish. Thank You for the daily comfort and precious companionship of the One Who will never let us down.
Thank You, that in Christ we have received newness of life and become a new creation in Him. What a friend we have in Jesus, what joy to know His companionship throughout our earthly life, all praise to His name. Amen.
