Exodus 39:42-43 “42 So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the Lord had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them.”

JOB WELL DONE

 Have you ever attempted to put something together without looking at the instructions? What happens?  Well, if you have never done this before, you usually revert back to the instructions.  Instructions are written for a reason.  They make the assembly easier (at least most of the time).  Following directions is easier than trying to wing it.

The craftsmen had followed all the Lord’s commandments as given by Moses.  They were diligent to get it right.  They knew they were working on something holy and sacred. They knew everything they did was a reflection of their love for their God.

TEACHING MOMENT

 How many times have you had to send your children back to their rooms to “reclean” it? This is exactly what I am talking about. We must teach our children that every task they do is a reflection of them and our Lord.  We must do our very best at everything we do since we are known by others as believers in Christ.

I had a boss once that said, “Holy shoddy is still shoddy.”  So true.  Excellence is expected.  Pride in our work is expected.  Show little Elrod how to do it right the first time.  Teach little Gertrude how excellence looks.  Then praise them for their work.  Moses blessed the workers when they had finished because they had followed directions and performed with excellence.  We should too.

Are you guilty of “half-way” doing your job?  Do you drag into work and drag along all day?  Refocus your attention to pleasing the Lord in your work.  By pleasing Him you will please your boss. Do your best at every task and see how He blesses.

Father, show me how to please You in every task. Show me how to honor You in my everyday tasks.

Exodus 35:30-33 “30 Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, ‘See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; 32 to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, 33 and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work.’”

SPECIFIC TO YOU

 Most people think that when someone is “called” by God that means they are going into the ministry.  God only calls people to be preachers or missionaries, right?  Wrong!  Look at today’s passage.  Bezalel was called to be the artist for the tabernacle.  God gave him specific gifts and abilities to be used for His glory. He even said, “He has filled him with the Spirit of God.”  Wow!  A Spirit filled artist.  That’s just cool.

Can you imagine how Bezalel felt when he heard Moses saying God had called him to serve Him in this way.  He was probably thinking, “How can I be used of God in the desert?”  There’s not much need for an artist in the wilderness.

TEACHING MOMENT

Your children will be given gifts by God through the Holy Spirit at salvation. I truly believe that.  I am not talking about talents or abilities. I am talking about spiritual gifts that can be manifested through talents and abilities.  As parents, it is our job to nurture those gifts and give them opportunities to develop them.

I bet Bezalel’s parents encouraged his artistic talents as a child, not knowing that God would one day take those and through His Spirit use them to help build the tabernacle.  Only God knows how He will use your child to honor Him.

I pray you are using your gifts to honor your Father in heaven.  It is sad to see someone neglect the gifts God has given them. And I know it saddens the heart of God for Him to see His children not use what He has given them to further His kingdom.  Be obedient with your gifts.

Father, thank You for the gifts You have given me. My heart longs to use them for Your glory!

Exodus 26:1-2 “‘1 Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and Or violet blue and purple and scarlet material; you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall have the same measurements.’”

DETAILS

Do you know how long 28 cubits is?  It’s 42 feet. So, each curtain was 42 feet long and 6 feet wide.  That’s a lot of fabric.  Where did all this fabric come from?  They are in the wilderness?  There wasn’t a neighborhood Walmart to run to.  There wasn’t a Hancock’s Fabrics to order from.  All this material came from the people who had brought it with them from their Egyptian masters.  Remember they had “plundered” Egypt when they left.

My point is this – God had a plan for the tabernacle long before the people left Egypt.  The people had no idea why they were carrying all the material with them except maybe to have clothes along the way.  God had a bigger plan.  He was going to have them build His temporary “home” among them with these items.

TEACHING MOMENT

 A lot of the time your children do not understand why they have to do the things you ask them to do.  They don’t see the big picture.  They only see the “now.”  Teaching them manners now will benefit them later.  Teaching them how to dress properly will be good to know when they get older.  Teaching your sons to respect their sisters will show them how to treat other women in their lives.  The list goes on and on.

Details matter.  Read a portion of this chapter and ask them what they think about all these numbers and measurements.  They will probably say, “I don’t know.  I hate math.” But once you explain the whole story to them they may just begin to understand that God had a plan long before they started building this tabernacle in the desert.  He has a similar plan for their lives.

What is God trying to build in your life?  Are you confused by the “materials” He is using?  Maybe He is using hard times.  Maybe He is using a new boss.  Perhaps He is using your past experiences.  God only uses what is absolutely necessary to “build” us into the shape He wants us.  Enjoy the process.

You are the Master Builder, God.  I know that.  I know You have the blueprint of my life written.  Help me trust You in the process.

Exodus 22:28 “‘You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.’”

BLESS, DON’T CURSE

 Few things get people more upset and argumentative than a bad leader or ruler.  You begin to talk bad about them and eventually even curse or threaten them. I’ve heard that from people I never thought would utter a bad word.  I’ve heard that from people who I agree with for the most part on most things.  But Scripture is plain.  We must pray for our leaders and not curse them.

God is giving Moses instructions for His people here in Exodus 22.  This is God talking, not man.  He tells us pretty directly how to treat our rulers.  So, if you have a problem with it, take it up with God, not me.  I have not always agreed with the policies of leaders in my life, but I must respect them.  To do otherwise is disobedience to God, which is sin.

TEACHING MOMENT

 Children need to learn this early.  They must respect you, first of all.  But then you must teach them to respect the leaders in their lives.  This topic seems to come up a lot in Scripture.  It must be important, you think?  Teaching our children to bless and not curse their leaders is a gift.  By learning and doing this they are pleasing their Heavenly Father which always is a good thing.

But suppose you have a little Johnny who is just rude to everyone.  You had better hold him accountable.  You had better discipline him when you see or hear of this attitude.  Why?  You are preparing him for life and for following his supreme leader, Jesus Christ. Anything short of that is sin.

How are you doing with this?  Do you struggle with submission?  I do.  I have days when I just want my way.  I may disagree with my leaders, but I must obey and bless them.  I want to please my Father in heaven much more than a boss or supervisor.  But I have found when I do that, normally I will be a blessing rather than a curse to those I answer to.

Lord, thank You for allowing me the humility to be the wrong one when I know I am right.  Help me to submit to those who You have placed over me.

Exodus 21:6 “‘then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently.’”

A WILLING SERVANT

 Read verses 1-6 and then come back to this devotion……get the picture.  This man has chosen to NOT leave his master.  He has chosen to serve him.  And, as a result, he is marked with a piercing through his ear.  Everyone who saw that piercing would know that he had chosen his master over freedom.

I have heard a lot of messages on being a bondservant.  I have heard a lot of sermons on this exact passage, or at least it being used as a reference.  But I don’t think I have ever heard focus on the piercing as a visible sign to everyone around them.  We have the same mark on us as followers of Christ.  No, not a piercing.  But we have been stamped with His seal on our hearts.  Everyone should know we have chosen the Master.

TEACHING MOMENT

 So, go out to your garage and get an awl.  Take your child to the door post and pierce…   I am just kidding. DON’T do that.  But you do need to talk to your children about standing out in the crowd as a follower of Christ.  They may not have a physical mark on their body that they are a Christian, but people should know.

Ask little Gertrude how people can know she loves Jesus.  I bet you get answers like this – loving others, doing good things, obeying you, etc.  These are all great ways.  But what is the most important way others can know?  By doing His will ALL THE TIME!  That’s what Jesus did and so should we.

Are you a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are you pierced through with surrender to His will?  Forsaking all others, follow Him.  He will keep you and defend you, like any good master.  He is the only true Master worth serving.

Master, I will follow.  I will do as You desire at all times.  Keep me close to Your side so I may observe You and serve You.

Exodus 10:16-17 “16 Then Pharaoh hurriedly called for Moses and Aaron, and he said, ‘I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. 17 Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and make supplication to the Lord your God, that He would only remove this death from me.’”

 PLEASE FORGIVE ME

 Pharaoh wasn’t remorseful.  He wasn’t sorry for what he had done.  He just wanted the locust gone.  He didn’t have any intention of truly repenting. Notice the words he uses.  He said, “the Lord your God.”  If you really repent, you cry out, “O Lord MY God.”  He had not recognized Jehovah as the only true God.

How many times have you said to God, “God, if will just get me out of this bind I am in right now, I promise to…”? We’ve all done that.  Is that repentance?  Is that true confession?  No!  We just want the pain to stop.  We just want relief.  My former brother-in-law used to famously say, “If you want relief, take a Rolaids. If you want help, come to Jesus.” That’s so true.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children are famous for false confessions.  Isn’t that true?  Your little Johnny hauls off and hits Susie.  You hear the scream and come running.  What do you make Johnny do?  You make him say he’s sorry for hitting his little sister.  Of course, most of the time he does that, but only to avoid a spanking or punishment himself.  He’s not sorry.  He just got caught.

What a great time to teach true repentance.  Take the time to explain to both of them how God forgives those who truly are sorry for their sins.  Unlike you, God knows their heart and their real motives.  They can never fool God.  So, there is no reason to try.  True repentance leads to a clean heart and joyful spirit.

What do you need to repent of today? What in your life has come between you and an open relationship with the Lord?  Unconfessed sin begins to build a barrier and before long you stop talking to Him.  Confess it now.  Let it out. Tell Him how sorry you are and beg Him to forgive you.  Listen – as a believer, that sin is already under the blood.  But you need to confess it and make things right with your God.

Lord, thank You for forgiveness and mercy.  I ask You to forgive me today for all those sins against You and others.  Cleanse me so I can enjoy the renewed fellowship with You.

1 Chronicles 27:33b “and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.”

 WHAT A FRIEND

 All through chapter 27 of I Chronicles we see a list of appointments.  This guy is over this. This guy is over that.  And then, at the very end of the chapter we read, “and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.”  He must have been a very special friend.  Well, he was.

This is the same Hushai who confounded Absalom who tried to overthrow his father David’s throne.  He protected David in the face of death if he was exposed. That’s a true friend.  That’s a friend you can count on.  Hushai was indeed the king’s friend.

TEACHING MOMENT

 As believers, we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  Jesus, the very son of God, died for us.  He was willing to give His life so that we might live.  Hushai was willing to give his life to allow David to continue living physically.  But Jesus gave His life so that we can live FOREVER.  That’s a friend.

Your children are going to have lots of friends and be a friend to lots of others.  I pray they have some Hushais in their life.  But my prayer is more that they will have the true friend, Jesus, walking beside them every day.  Parents, you are the one to introduce them to your best friend, Jesus.  You are the one to show them how His “friendship” changed your life.  You are the one to show them just how much Jesus loves them.

But let me ask you a question. Are you being a true friend to Jesus. Friends spend time together.  Are you doing that?  Friends talk to each other.  Are you doing that?  Friends will lay down their lives for each other.  Would you do that for Jesus?

Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be my Savior and my friend.  What a friend we have in Jesus!

1 Chronicles 24:2a “But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons.”

HARD TO UNDERSTAND

 If you read this account of Nadab and Abihu’s deaths it may appear that they just died young.  You have to go back to Leviticus 10 to find out why they died.  As sons of Aaron they were anointed as priests, but the Word says they offered “strange fire” at the tabernacle.  They obviously were not following the Law as given by God through Moses, and God killed them there on the spot.

It is always sad when a child dies before his parents.  That’s not the way it is supposed to happen, right?  No parent should have to bury their child. But here we see that Nadab and Abihu were being disobedient and rebellious, which resulted in their untimely death.  The same can happen today.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children who deliberately spit at God and deny His supremacy risk punishment and the consequences of sin.  No parent wants to hear that, I know.  No parent wants to see their child suffer or even die for their sins. But I bet you can name people you know who have lost children to drugs, drunk driving or violent lifestyles.  Sin has consequences.  That hasn’t changed.

How do you, as parents, protect your children from making these kind of wrong choices?  How do you guard their hearts from being lured away by the world?  All you can do is pray and saturate their minds with His Word. You have to live it yourselves. Don’t be a hyprocrite.  Don’t say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”  And once you’ve done all that, give them over to God.

This may sound harsh for a devotional.  I guess it is, but it is what the Word says.  God is still a holy, righteous, jealous God who requires us to honor and uphold His name.  We can’t be called His child and live like the devil.  If that is you today, repent and return to righteous living.  Amen?

Lord, I know I come short too many days of living up to Your standards.  Help me to honor Your name by living a life that exemplifies You.  Help me teach others to do the same.

1 Chronicles 20:8 “These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.”

THE BIGGER THEY ARE…

 Go back and read verses 4-8 of 1 Chronicles 20.  Go ahead, I’ll wait…  Are you done? Good.  This passage lists three other giants.  Other passages list four.  Whether it was three or four, it doesn’t matter.  Whether they were Goliath’s (the giant David killed) brothers, sons or a combination of the two, doesn’t matter.  The fact is there were other giants in David’s life.

How did he handle them?  Well, in the beginning when he killed Goliath he had chosen five smooth stones.  Hmmm, do you think he had seen the other giants in the crowd?  Later, when he was king, he had mighty men in his army who were able to take them down. Regardless how they fell, David trusted the Lord to defend His name.  God will always do that.

TEACHING MOMENT

 That’s my point.  Teach your children that the “giants” they will face in their Christian walk aren’t concerned so much about tearing them down.  They want to nullify and disprove God’s faithfulness to His children.  God will not stand for that.  He will rise up and defend them.  But He may ask them to pick up some stones too.

“Hold it, Carl.  Are you saying God tells us to sling stones?”  No!  I am saying He wants us to be prepared for battle, just like David and his mighty men were.  Our sword is the Word of God.  Our shield is faith.  When we clothe ourselves with the breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation and put the gospel on our feet, we are able to withstand any enemy’s attacks.

That’s the lesson to teach your children.  Children are fascinated with giants.  When you read them this story, don’t focus on the 24 fingers and toes on the giant.  Focus on their defeat at the hand of God.  Giants hold no power of fear over us.

God of all creation, I look forward to hearing about all your creation, even giants, when I get to heaven.  But I look forward more to thanking You for the victories You gave me over those giants in my life who wanted to bring me down. 

1 Chronicles 16:43 “Then all the people departed each to his house, and David returned to bless his household.”

MEN, IT’S YOUR JOB

1 Chronicles 16 is a beautiful chapter on the return of the ark to the tent of meeting in Jerusalem.  David sets it back up and then establishes the men who will attend to the sacrifices and worship.  Verses 8-36 are a must read.  It’s a Psalm of thanksgiving and is full of beautiful imagery.

But it’s the last part of the last verse of this chapter that struck me.  After this day of worship and celebration, “David returned to bless his household.”  The king of Israel goes home and blesses his family.  Why didn’t he just let the priest do that?  Wasn’t he too busy to do that?  No, David knew the importance of leading his family well, and that begins with blessing them.

TEACHING MOMENT

 If you have not done that, Dads, do it today.  Gather your brood together tonight and pray a blessing over them.  Lay your hands on their heads and ask the Lord to guide and strengthen them.  Ask the Lord to give them wisdom and discernment to follow Him.  Ask the Lord to direct their every step as they go to school or play.  Ask the Lord to bless them with a godly spouse.

Then turn to your wife and bless her. She needs that.  Ask her how you can bless her in the name of Jesus.  Get on your knees before her and lay your hands on her and pray over her.  I promise you she will let you.  This will bless her socks off.

This devotional today is addressed towards men and dads, but ladies you also can get a takeaway from it.  You too can bless your children daily.  Don’t just pray for protection over them.  Pray for the Lord to use them how He wants to.

O God, You bless me every day.  Help me to be faithful to bless my family daily.  Let me show them the power of prayer in their lives as they see these blessings come to fruition.