A Willing Heart

All the work of building the Tabernacle started with intercession and prayer. Moses was away alone for forty days and forty nights receiving the instructions and commandments from the LORD. Jesus was away alone for forty days and forty nights when He was tempted in the wilderness. Was He too in intercession and prayer about setting up the heavenly Tabernacle and receiving God’s gifts for the Church?

Moses didn’t force the people to make offerings. Only those whose hearts were stirred and who had willing spirits were to come with their offerings. Were their hearts stirred when they saw Moses’ face shining from being in the presence of the Lord (Verse 26)? I know my heart is stirred when I see someone who has obviously been in God’s presence and speaks His words.

The building of the tabernacle was a colourful and exciting project which must have taken over the lives of the people for many months, for we read that it was finally erected on the first day of the first month of the second year (Exodus 40:17). The whole theme was one of sacrifice (A pattern of what was to come). Building the Church is also colourful and exciting for those involved. It’s not always a visible activity like building the Tabernacle. But God creates from the invisible. ‘By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible’ (Hebrews 11:3). And building the Church is also about sacrifice.

Jesus said, ‘I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it’ (Matthew 16:18). In the invisible Church, not made with hands, Jesus is the Lamb of sacrifice, who gave Himself for sin once and for all. Now there’s restoration, and revival of lives and spirits. There’s new spiritual birth. There’s victory over the powers of darkness. There are beautiful spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church, and love to heal broken lives. Old things are exchanged for new. And Jesus wants ‘willing hearts’ to help Him build His Church. Just as the glory of God came into the Tabernacle, may we see God’s glory come upon His Church.

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give,
I will ever love and trust Him
In His Presence daily live.
I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee my Blessed Saviour
I surrender all. Judson Van de Venter.