Serving God Effectively – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, February 11, 2019
Chapters: Exodus 36-38
Message: Serving God Effectively

Hello My Friend,

I was thinking about all the churches I have been a member of since I dedicated my life to Christ, and that would be six. People often leave a church because they see one group of people doing all these things, and get offended by their being blessed. I have only left a church for doctrinal issues, and once to be closer to my family. Some churches are more like religion, think Pharisees, and some are more like social gatherings, my church is like a spiritual hospital, it has a motto, “Come as you are, leave better.” While we do need fellowship with likeminded Christians, a church is not a place for social gatherings or rules so strict even Jesus would not be allowed, it is a place to gather, serve God, and be healed by our Great Physician. We are all broken vessels, and the only one who can heal us is Jesus Christ. “And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Mark 2:16-17.

“but sinners to repentance.” It is only when we admit we are sinners, and need Jesus Christ that we come to repent of our dead works and turn to Him for our salvation. Salvation is one thing, that saves our soul, but there is no better way to come to repentance, meaning turn away from our sin, than faithfully serving God. It was time to build the first house of worship for God, up unto this point, they would just build an altar, and offer sacrifices as they saw fit, but now, this would be the place to go, and they would know exactly what it is that they were to offer, and why. Moses spoke, told them was needed, and just as God had said, Bezaleel and Aholiab, laid out the plans, and did so exactly as God instructed.

“Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;” – Exodus 36:1-4.

“in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom,” Never think that God cannot use you, the talents God has given you are meant for His purpose, and even if you are a janitor, God has given you that wisdom for His purpose. I understand we want better things for ourselves, and God wants that too, but until we learn to be humble, and perfect what He has given us right now we are not going to be blessed for our service to Him. Do you remember the parable Jesus gave about three men that were given money by their employer in order to get a return on his investment? Two men used the money wisely, and increased their value while the other one hid his, and got it taken away. God blesses us for our faithfulness in serving Him, and willingness to do the dirty work first. “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.” – I Corinthians 7:20-22.

“likewise also he that is called, being free,” People get this idea that a life with Christ means being in jail or some kind of servant, but that is far from the truth. When we choose to serve God we are truly free, free from the bondage of the world, and He gives us every means to fulfill whatever it is that He calls us to do. Now, that they had all the materials to build the Tabernacle it was time to begin constructing it, beginning with the tent.

“And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them. The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size. And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another. And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another. And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.” – Exodus 36:8-13.

“so it became one tabernacle.” Remember, the Church is not one member, it is a body of members coming together serving God. I was reading some of the commentaries on the tent, and found this illustration very interesting, God’s house itself was made of carefully detailed embroidered curtains, shepherds dwell in tents, Jesus is the Great Shepherd, and soldiers dwell in tents also, we who are saved are soldiers for Christ. This got me thinking, our place on earth is only temporary, we are in a spiritual war, Jesus is our Great Shepherd who leads His troop of soldiers in this battle, and we must be prepared, ready to pack up, and move at a moments notice wherever we are called. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” – I Peter 2:11-12.

“they may by your good works” You see, faithful Christians who serve in His Church do not do so because it is required, we do so because it is what He calls us to do, and in our faithfulness we may actually bring some to know Christ themselves. Now that the tent was complete, they began to build the furniture and everything else that went inside of the Tabernacle, the Ark, the Shewbread table, and the altar of incense.

“And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about. And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal. And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold. And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.” – Exodus 27:25-29.

“according to the work of the apothecary” Years ago I was learning to become a physical therapist, and became avid in apothecary, there was this deep sense of worth in healing or easing someones aches and pains through scent, and amazing oils. Since I have been talking so much about the importance of going to the altar I decided it was time to go up to the altar every Sunday morning, and let me tell you, just standing there has healing power, you do not even have to say anything, just being there You feel Jesus touching you. By the way, Jesus is the anointed oil that heals our aches and pains from the inside out. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” – II Corinthians 1:21-22.

“Who hath also sealed us,” Jesus anoints and seals us with His blood, praise God! You know, the altar of incense was used once a year for an offering yearly to make an atonement for all the souls that were redeemed from their sins that year? Jesus became that offering once and for all. Now, they constructed the altar for the burnt offering. This was built next, and notice that this was overlaid in brass.

“And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof. And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass. And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass. And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards. And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” – Exodus 38:1-3,7-8.

“of the lookingglasses of the women assembling,” When brass is shined up it is like a mirror, so, before mirrors were invented, people used brass to see themselves in. Why would God want brass on the altar that served the purpose of offering sacrifices to Him? The wood itself would have been burned up if it were not overlaid in brass, and well, gold and silver melts in fire so brass would be the option here, but think about this, the sacrifice would reflect off the brass, and that was visible to God. When we receive Christ as our Saviour, our offering is visible to God, and we become like Him. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:4.

Have to add this, today, our altar is Jesus, and when we come to Him, He serves as both our permanent atonement sacrifice, and the one we daily come to, not for salvation, but to confess and bear our burdens so that we can be renewed each day. Christians can serve God continuously, but we need to come to the altar daily in order to be renewed and effective for God. Does God want us serving Him if it in just out of obligation, and or recognition? No, He does not. And if we do it for that reason we will be wearing ourselves out serving and getting angry when we see others being blessed for their service and we are not. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” – Galatians 5:25-26.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.” – Exodus 36:1.

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your wisdom and the knowledge You give us to be able to use the talents You give us. While You always give us a choice to serve You, we truly do not understand the purpose and joy that comes until we come to You willingly, and use them for Your purpose. Lord, lead me and guide me, prepare my heart, help me to be eager to diligently study Your Word so that I can effectively serve You in the areas of Your calling, whenever You call me. I love You and ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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