The Heart-Stirred and Wise-Hearted Servant by Issan Acosta
Today’s Passage – Exodus 36 – 38 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Luke 19 – 20; Proverbs 1; Psalms 6 – 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 89:1
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: Exodus 36:1-2
When I read this passage of scripture the first thing that comes to mind was my first Winter Camp a couple of months after I got saved. Brother Charlie Clark was preaching the last message of camp on the topic of “Living for God”. That night, I surrendered my life to the Lord. I did not want to waste my life away pursuing treasures on earth. From that night forward my heart was stirred for the work of the Lord, much like Bez’aleel, Aho’liab and the men mentioned in Exodus 36:2.
In chapter 36, we see God continuing to give Moses instruction on the the design of the tabernacle: the curtains, the boards and the veils to be specific. This spectacular structure that would be assembled and disassembled as they wandered in the wilderness was the Lord’s dwelling place and was not any ordinary tent that was to be put up. I would like to focus your attention this morning to verses 1 and 2 of chapter 36. God used men that had these two key characteristics for the work of the Lord:
Wise-hearted- It is so easy to serve the Lord in the capacity of our own understanding and way. We get accustomed to it and learn that we can get by with it well through out our Christian life. As servants of the Lord it is critical that we ask the Lord for wisdom when we are serving and working for him.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5
Very early in ministering for the Lord I learned that not every problem and issue we may come across has a cookie cutter solution to it. A saw and a utility knife are both important tools to a carpenter, but they both can yield very different results depending on how and when they are used. When was the last time you asked God to give you wisdom when ministering for him?
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established Proverbs 24:3
A Stirred Heart – The fumes of going through the motions in serving the Lord will only get you so far before your flesh, the devil and the world tell you to call it quits. The best fuel for serving the Lord is a stirred heart. I can tell you from experience that it is very difficult for your heart to be stirred for the work of the Lord when you are living for yourself and are spiritually anemic. Spending time with the Lord in his word and through prayer is key to developing a heart that is stirred for the work of the Lord. Serving God with a stirred heart takes the pressures off of ourselves and allows us to give God the Glory!
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2
Posted in Devotions by issan.acosta with 4 comments.
The Coat of Many Mournings by Issan Acosta
Today’s Passage – Genesis 36 – 37 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 27 – 28; Proverbs 14; Psalms 66 – 70
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Matthew 6:33
Read the “0114 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from this passage – “The Green Eyed Monster.“
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. Genesis 37:3
As believers in Christ we have the privilege of knowing this Bible story very well and knowing the outcome of it. It would do us well to put ourselves in the shoes of Jacob, Joseph and his brethren and see each circumstance play out from their point of view.
In this passage we saw Jacob’s undeniable favoritism for Joseph displayed in making him a coat of many colors. One of the things I have always overlooked while reading this passage was the fact that the Bible says, “…he (Jacob) made him a coat of many colours.” When I see this play out in my mind I picture Jacob putting in hours of work every day into making this coat. I see his sons observing their father meticulously dyeing the fabric he was using and assembling this rare piece of garment. They must have assumed it was for Ruben the eldest son. They may have also had the intuition that it was for their father’s favorite son. When his father presented the coat to him it struck hatred in the hearts of his brothers from that day forth. Little did Joseph know that this wonderful gift Jacob made for him was going to be the begining of tribulations in his life.
We see favoritism play out earlier in Genesis with Isaac and Rebekah favoring one child over the other. Favoritism never ends well. It can destroy families and lead to bitterness. The Old Testament was written for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11). A look at this story in the Bible shows us the importance of ending generational curses. We do not have to repeat the sins of our fathers. Later on in Genesis God blesses Joseph with two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. With Joseph’s track record throughout his life I can almost guaranteed he stopped this cycle of favoritism within his own family. A life of constant surrender to the Holy Spirit of God will help us break these cycles. It will help us manifest God’s Grace and Love to our families and loved ones.
Posted in Devotions by issan.acosta with 2 comments.