Read: Exodus 25-27
Focus Verse: “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. Your re to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.” (Exodus 25:1-2).
Devotion: Now starts the long sections describing how to build a place to worship God, the Tabernacle. It’s essentially a fancy mobile tent but filled with gold, silver, and bronze. This is one nice place they are building! Now all the materials for this don’t just appear, it tells us that God said in 25:2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.” This giving is not guilted or obligated, it’s whoever has a heart that prompts giving. It then goes on to tell us from this unforced freewill offering of the people, more than enough is given to build this enormous, elaborate place to worship God. We’ll see later on too that Moses has to tell the people to STOP bringing so much because they are receiving way more than they need. But the point here is that the gifts we give are from our heart, they are not guilted or obligated. We are called to give freely to God.
Pray: LORD, help me to have a heart that prompts me to give, and help me share that heart with those around me, expecting no obligations. Amen.
Additional Scripture: “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.” (Colossians 3:15)