Devotion - Day 2: Monday: God equips us to be workers with his Spirit

Read Exodus 35:31-36:1

For those of you who were in church on Pentecost Sunday, it was hard to miss the fact that it was a special day. As you walked into the sanctuary a blazing red banner immediately caught your attention. It was a visible reminder that the Holy Spirit is with us…guiding and equipping us throughout our journey. This week I’ve considered moving the banner from the sanctuary into my office. In worship I am aware of the Spirit’s presence. But I often cease to be aware of that presence throughout the week.

As we formally begin our work today, perhaps we need to recall that banner in our minds. We need to cling to the promise of the Holy Spirit, to remember that we go out to serve empowered and equipped by the Holy Spirit. We do not go out into the world relying on our own power, but on God’s power.

When we think of the gifts of the Spirit, we often think of gifts of teaching and preaching. But in today’s passage, the Holy Spirit gives gifts of another kind. In Exodus 35, the people of Israel began to build the tabernacle. This passage recalls how the Spirit was actively involved with the workers and their project. Exodus 35:30 reads, “Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.” The Spirit of God is the source of the many skills and abilities required for the design and construction of the tabernacle—metalwork, jewelry making, carpentry, engraving, weaving, and other related talents. These skills are awfully familiar to the ones that grace our team!
The Spirit gives an amazing array of gifts and talents, from carpentry to art, masonry to hospitality. All of these gifts are from the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who was available to the ancient Israelite workers is ready to help you carry out your work to the glory of God! Carry this promise with you this week. Know that you are blessed and gifted by the Holy Spirit whether you are building ramps or relationships. Wear this promise like a banner around your neck…so that you may feel the encouraging wind of the Spirit as you work.