How does Exodus 35:25 inspire us to use our skills for God's work? Setting the Scene Exodus 35 finds Israel gathering materials for the tabernacle. God calls for offerings, and the people respond with willing hearts and ready hands, each contributing according to the gifts He has given. What Exodus 35:25 Says “Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, and fine linen.” Observation: Ordinary Hands, Extraordinary Purpose • “Every” skilled woman—no skill too small, no person overlooked • They “spun with their hands”—their familiar, everyday craft • They “brought what they had spun”—transferring personal effort into sacred service • The yarn’s colors—blue, purple, scarlet—became part of the very dwelling place of God Timeless Principles We Can Grasp • Skills are gifts: “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship” (Exodus 31:3). • Willing hearts matter as much as able hands: “Everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD” (Exodus 35:21). • Variety is by design: blue, purple, scarlet, linen—diverse contributions blend into one beautiful whole (1 Corinthians 12:4–6). • Work becomes worship when offered to God: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). New Testament Echoes • 1 Peter 4:10—“Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” • Romans 12:6—“We have different gifts according to the grace given us.” • 1 Corinthians 15:58—“Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Practical Ways to Spin Our Yarn for God Today • Identify your “spindle.” What do you naturally do well—teaching, mechanics, cooking, coding, music? • Offer it willingly. Look for needs in your church or community that match your ability. • Aim for excellence. The women spun fine linen; our best quality honors the Lord. • Partner with others. Their threads combined to form the tabernacle’s fabric; our collective service builds up Christ’s body. • Give God the credit. When compliments come, redirect the praise: “The skill is His gift; I just spun the yarn.” |
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