God Qualifies The Called

"You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood." - Exodus 28:3

God was giving very detailed instructions on how to build the temple, everything in it and the ceremonial clothing the priests would wear. I am reading through the Bible this year - again - and as I am sure you already know, there are some parts that are more interesting than others. I was struggling a bit with not jumping ahead a chapter or two when I came upon verse 3 in chapter 28.

I was reminded of a saying I heard some time back "God does not call the qualified - He qualifies the called." We have been called to a new life that is impossible to live on our own. God has purposed us for a place in the Body of Christ, the Church, that is beyond our natural abilities. The people that were to make the garments for Aaron could not make them on their own. Oh, they may have been skilled tailors, but what God required of them was beyond the natural skills learned by men and women in the tailoring trade. 

I think too often we think of serving God using our wit and natural skillfulness. But that is not enough. Serving God begins with a yielded heart. There is a song that comes to mind. "Have Thine own way Lord. Have Thine own way. Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will. While I am waiting yielded and still." 

It is not about what I can do for God - but what God can do through me that has eternal value. Paul wrote that apart from God (who is the source of love) he was nothing more than a clanging cymbal - a noisy gong (1 Corinthians 13:1). People share with me what they have done in church and for God - but the question that comes to mind - was God the source of it - or were they just sewing a garment together using their own skill.

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ...  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. ... For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." - 1 Corinthians 12:7,11,12

Each of us have been given one or more spiritual gifts or skills by God through the Spirit for the purpose of building up the church - being a testimony to the those who are lost to lift Jesus up and for the glory of God the Father. And so each of us should be faithful to our calling and purpose. Mindful that for each of us who are crucified with Christ but ... 

"it is not I but Christ who lives in me. And the life which I now live I life by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me." - Galatians 2:20

Is your testimony about what you have done for God or about what God has done in you and through you?  Your heart answered before your mind could. The way we truthfully answer that question will reveal the true devotion of our hearts.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Confess it - Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone