Gifted Artisans

"And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest." ... Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD's offering.
(Exodus 28:2-3; 35:21 NKJV)

Let us go into His tabernacle;
Let us worship at His footstool.
Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place ...
Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.
(Psalms 132:7-9 NKJV)

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24 NKJV)

Someone once said something like, "The sciences teach us to sustain life; the arts teach us to make life worth sustaining." Yet the work of gifted artisans is sometimes seen as frivolous and unessential.

God's gifts are never intended to be used for the frivolous and unessential. The arts bring to worship—both corporate and private—a purposeful and vital ministry. Whoever else our ministry reaches, it ministers first to the Lord Himself. The Father seeks out true worshipers, who minister to Him and to those He loves.

Worshipers may be in the congregation, faithful preachers, or gifted artisans. All are ministers—priests—clothed with righteousness to proclaim the Word of God in spirit and truth. And ministry is a sacred offering of worship, whether presented in church on Sunday morning, or to someone else, somewhere else, some other time of the week.

Lord YHWH, thank You for Your calling to us who are Christ's. Thank You for making us a royal priesthood, privileged to minister to You. Good Father, we ask: please reveal to us Your truth and give to us Your Holy Spirit in greater fullness, that we may bring before You a worthy offering of worship.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy