Dear Church Family,

I enjoy great craftsmanship and artistry. I would love to see the Sistine Chapel someday. Apparently, God cares about beauty, artistry, and craftsmanship, because when he tasked Moses with ensuring that the tabernacle and its contents, the altars, and the priestly garments, he wanted them to be well-crafted. In fact, He went to the extent of giving specific people exceptional abilities to make them.

Exodus 31:1-6 (ESV)
The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.

God called Bezalel, filled him with the Spirit, gave him ability, intelligence, knowledge, and craftmanship. Often, we think of the spiritual gifts God gives us and forget the ways He gifts us that don’t seem as spiritual. Bezalel was specially gifted in these ways by God so that he could give God glory in his artistic designs. When we think of our own lives, it’s important to remember that all of our gifts and abilities are gifts from Him and to be used for Him.
How has God gifted you? Do you consider Him the source of your gifts or do you take credit for them? Are you using those gifts or wasting them? Are you using them to glorify God or to serve yourself?

1 Cor. 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.