The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: ADEPT (10/19/23)
I have always been intrigued, when reading about the building of the temple in the Old Testament, that it refers to the workers as skilled craftsman. It's an important detail, not to be overlooked. Exodus 36:8 says, “All the skilled craftsmen among those doing the work made the tabernacle with 10 curtains. Bezalel made them of finely spun linen, as well as blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with a design of cherubim worked into them.” When looking it up, I noticed a footnote for craftsman. It said it literally means “the wise of heart.”

These craftsman would have to be wise of heart, because they were building something very specific, with instructions from God as to how to go about doing this very detailed work. The wisdom these craftsman had came from God who is the ultimate Craftsman, skilled and proficient in ways that we can never be, and yet, as we live the life He has given us to live, and we seek Him in whatever it is He has given us to do, we too, are skilled and proficient because we are created in the image of God.

I wonder what it was like for Jesus to be a carpenter, skilled in the craft of carpentry, using tools that would most likely rarely be used in our modern times. What was it like for His parents to watch Him develop these skills, knowing that they were watching the Son of God; literally God Himself, who spoke the world into being, make a table, a chair, or perhaps a rocker that Mary used? If so, did she sit in it, pondering the things of God, marveling that she was sitting in something made by God, who was, at the same time, man?

Did He perhaps build houses and other buildings too? Whatever He put His hand to do, He was the most skilled man whoever walked the earth. He was wiser in heart than any other human. As He worked did He pray for the work that was yet ahead of Him, which was the greater work? Did He look ahead to the cross, perhaps praying for the man who would 'build it'? Did He picture the blood stains that would be on it from His own body? Was His heart in agony even then, at what He knew would transpire in taking on the sins of all humanity?

Today, Jesus is still, in a sense, a carpenter, building lives He created them to be, from the moment they were born. When a person gives their life to Jesus, the construction continues of hewing a heart, with attention to detail, skillfully using circumstances to the greatest advantage as a masterpiece emerges.

A masterpiece in the hands of the Master Carpenter is a beautiful and glorious thing. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Will we allow Him to keep on with His skilled work, shaping and molding us? Will we trust Him to know exactly what He's doing even if sometimes the tools He uses, seem to hurt, or may be a bit rough?

Prayer
Father, in Jesus's name I ask that You would help me to yield to the skilled work of the Master Carpenter as he wields the tools necessary to make me into the person you want me to be. Amen.



Scripture references
Exodus 36:8 (HCSB)
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 357 times
Member Comments
Member
Date