WEATHER ALERT:

Due to weather conditions, all in-person daytime and evening programs have been canceled across the church’s locations for Wednesday, except for the Recovery programs and Food Pantry at Overland Park. Decisions for Thursday daytime programs will correspond with local school district decisions and will be posted on the church’s website.

IMPORTANT:

Scheduled programming has resumed for Thursday, February 13 at all Resurrection locations.

God’s spirit gave skills needed for worship

September 10, 2024
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Daily Scripture

Exodus 31:1-5, 35:30-35

Exodus 31
1 The LORD spoke to Moses: 2 Look, I have chosen Bezalel, Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson from the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the divine spirit, with skill, ability, and knowledge for every kind of work. 4 He will be able to create designs; do metalwork in gold, silver, and copper; 5 cut stones for setting; carve wood; and do every kind of work.

Exodus 35
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites: “Look, the LORD has chosen Bezalel, Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson from the tribe of Judah. 31 The LORD has filled him with the divine spirit that will give him skill, ability, and knowledge for every kind of work. 32 He will be able to create designs, do metalwork in gold, silver, and copper, 33 cut stones for setting, carve wood, do every kind of creative work, 34 and have the ability to teach others. Both he and Oholiab, Ahisamach’s son from the tribe of Dan, 35 have been given the skill to do every kind of work done by a gem cutter or a designer or a needleworker in blue, purple, and deep red yarns and in fine linen or a weaver or anyone else doing work or creating designs.

Daily Reflection & Prayer

The book of Exodus recorded God making a covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai. One pivotal point came in Exodus 25:8 as God said, “They should make me a sanctuary so I can be present among them.” From there, nearly all of Exodus 25-30 carried detailed instructions for what all the items in the sanctuary (a tent—and by extension, the Temple in Jerusalem) should be like. But who could possibly have the skills to make so many beautifully elaborate pieces?

  • “Two construction supervisors are chosen. The chief supervisor, Bezalel, is filled… with the divine spirit and is from the southern tribe of Judah. Oholiab is from the far northern tribe of Dan.” * Of course, the Sinai Israelites didn’t yet live in Canaan, so tribal geography only interested the historians who wrote down the Exodus story. But it mattered that “the divine spirit” was the vital source of the supervisors’ skill. What light does that cast on the beautiful settings and music in our worship today?
  • Of course, building the elaborate sanctuary was more than a two-person job. Exodus said Bezalel and Oholiab not only had wonderful God-given skills themselves, but also had “the ability to teach others” (Exodus 35:34). In your work and other areas of service, what things are you best at doing? What ways have you found (or could you find) to share your ability with others who could benefit from learning from you?
Prayer

God, shape in me a heart willing to hear your call, willing to see all the skills you have given me, and willing to do wholeheartedly on my own or with others whatever you set before me. Amen.

GPS Insights

Picture of Lydia Kim

Lydia Kim

Lydia Kim serves as one of the pastors of Connection and Care at Resurrection Leawood. An avid believer that growing in faith pairs well with fellowship and food, she is always ready for recommendations on local restaurants and coffee shops.

 

With Fall right around the corner, I find my social media full of Fall–Fall drinks, décor, sports, and fashion. I love Fall because I love sweaters, jackets, and coats. Each year I anticipate the day when all my “summer clothes” get put away to make room for Fall! Over the years what’s in style, what I like, even how I feel about football has changed. (Go Chiefs!) What hasn’t changed is my love for this season.

In the same way, while all our skills and abilities may be different, and how we express them might change with the seasons, what doesn’t change is that God has given each of us abilities and skills to share with one another. I love this promise. God is with us. Each one of us is important. And together we become something more beautiful than we could possibly imagine.

So whatever changes are happening in your life, remember that God’s Spirit is always at work in you. We as a community need you. And we need each other so that all might be able to worship God and Do Unto Others.

© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References

* Dennis T. Olson, study note on Exodus 31:1 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 136-137 OT.