Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, October 19, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-10-19-2017

This is devotional thought number 36 in our devotional series, “Removing the Veil: Sanctuary Living in the 21st Century.” Our subject is: God, the Builder

Here’s the question for consideration: Is God concerned with every aspect of our lives?

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psalm 127:1).

Sometimes I have to shake my head (SMH) at us tiny little humans. We make grand and elaborate plans to do all sorts of things. We spend, invest, and waste money to accomplish them. We put our relationships, health, and futures at risk while chasing after them. Plans. Plans are good as far as they go. I would know. I am an extreme planner. However, I realize that much of what we plan, and even execute garners limited or no results for one simple reason—we sometimes neglect to surrender all of our plans and fancy mechanisms for execution of said plans to the God who sees and knows all. Even when we experience impressive levels of what some might consider success, how much more successful would we have been if we simply surrendered all to God? The same is the case with regard to our sanctuary lifestyles, dwelling in the light of God’s presence. If we contrive a way to get close to God instead of seeking His face in prayer, humble submission, and the light of His Word, whatever we end up with will be idolatrous. It will be a monument to our blasphemous prowess; our ability to erect an image of God in our lives that does not represent Him at all.

To illustrate this fact, and to protect His honour among the nations, YHWH (blessed be His name), did something quite special in the building of His earthly sanctuary. Here it is: “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;” (Exodus 31:1–6). To preserve His honor, manifest the pure revelation of Himself, and take people into the highest order of the worship experience, our God filled His workman with the Holy Spirit. Do not miss this. So often, we take our lives and daily tasks lightly. We don’t recognize the need for the Holy Spirit to guide our every footstep in vocation, leisure, education, etc. In the construction of the sanctuary, we see that God will make even our work an act of worship, if we are willing to cooperate. Not only did God fill Bezaleel with His Spirit, but He also gave him wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and supernatural abilities to do good work. And that’s not all… God gave him an equally inspired companion, Aholiab, to accomplish all God commanded.

When we commit our ways to God (all of them), our submission becomes an act of worship. It’s sanctuary living, in its fulness. Then, and only then are we perfectly insulated against failure. When we are indwelt by the Spirit, and submitted to His will, whatever we do will prosper. God’s perspective on prosperity is so much higher than the human mind can conceive, so don’t limit your trajectory by how frail human beings define it.—L. David Harris (