Thursday, 2/5/2015

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.” ~ Erma Bombeck

EXODUS 37, 38

God called all the skilled workmen to build the Sanctuary and everything as God had commanded. Bezalel was one that was the most skilled and oversaw the building of the entire Sanctuary, Ark etc.

   1Now Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was two and a half cubits, and its width one and a half cubits, and its height one and a half cubits; 2and he overlaid it with pure gold inside and out, and made a gold molding for it all around.

MATTHEW 23:23-39

Jesus lays it on them again...but in the end you can almost feel the longing and the angst in frustration.  How he wants them to get it, to repent, to operate in love...

23“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.25

33“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation. 

37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’^c ” 

JOURNAL

I never before thought about the great honor in building the sanctuary.  It is amazing the richness of God's word and how I never before picked up on the beauty in this passage.  The joy that must have been felt as Bezalel built the Ark with God's instructions.  Using his gifts and talents all to the glory of God.

Contrasting that with the Pharisees, it becomes apparent why Jesus has such frustration.  They are gifted teachers, smart, brilliant, respected and yet the are "white-washed tombs'.  So heartbreaking to see talent and gifts wasted...again I don't have to look very far to realize how I have wasted the gifts he has given me.

Yet today is not over and with God's grace I will have more moments and more days.  To share, to love, to give, to experience the joy of using my gifts all to the glory of God.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day (2 Timothy 4:7-8)