Well Done
Exodus 39:42-43: "According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them."
Finished, they presented their handiwork to Moses. Eight times throughout Exodus 39, we read these words, "as the Lord had commanded." Not only was the work of the tabernacle completed, but it was completed in faithful obedience to the command of the Lord. What a gift that must have been to God and to Moses! When the Lord gave Moses instructions for the articles to be housed within the tabernacle, he spoke these words: "And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain" (Exodus 25:40). In other words, do it exactly as I have told you; do not veer from my words. With the construction finished, these words of the Lord are fulfilled by the people; they have held faithfully to the Lord's words and instruction.
The reward of their faithful work was the joy of Moses and the blessing of Moses. After all the challenges Moses had faced with the nation of Israel, what a delight to have them obey whole-heartedly. After the golden calf fiasco, the Lord was deeply angry at the nation of Israel. In that anger, he threatened to consume the nation and to start over with Moses. Moses contended for the people before God, and God heard his prayer and relented. These were people that Moses deeply cared for, protected, and nurtured in the Lord. Moses was the faithful mediator between God and his people. It is natural to think that he loved them as a father loves his children. Here, Moses rejoiced over his children; he blessed them and commended them for a job well done! Moses' delight surely brought joy to his people, just as a father's delight brings joy to his children.
Like the nation of Israel, we long for our Father's delight and blessing. Jesus often told parables during his earthly ministry. One of those parables was about the talents entrusted to three servants. The first servant invested his talents well and heard these words from his master: "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:21). Jesus used this parable to teach his followers that we must be good stewards of all that he has entrusted to us. We are to invest in the kingdom of God, invest in others, share our resources, and give as we have been given. When we faithfully steward these gifts out of love for him, the Lord delights in our work, and we can be assured of his commendation during our earthly lives and when we see him face to face.
Make your heart's desire to hear the Lord speak, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Work heartily unto the Lord. Seek to obey him in all that you do and say. Set your eyes on his kingdom and his priorities. Share your gifts with others and invest in the building of his kingdom.
Reflection:
Is your goal to finish well? Today is the day to set your intention to make the purpose of your will to fulfill his will. Persevere to the end, and you too will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Are you seeking to live your life according to the Lord's commands and guidance all the way to completion? How are you stewarding your gifts to the finish line?
Finished, they presented their handiwork to Moses. Eight times throughout Exodus 39, we read these words, "as the Lord had commanded." Not only was the work of the tabernacle completed, but it was completed in faithful obedience to the command of the Lord. What a gift that must have been to God and to Moses! When the Lord gave Moses instructions for the articles to be housed within the tabernacle, he spoke these words: "And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain" (Exodus 25:40). In other words, do it exactly as I have told you; do not veer from my words. With the construction finished, these words of the Lord are fulfilled by the people; they have held faithfully to the Lord's words and instruction.
The reward of their faithful work was the joy of Moses and the blessing of Moses. After all the challenges Moses had faced with the nation of Israel, what a delight to have them obey whole-heartedly. After the golden calf fiasco, the Lord was deeply angry at the nation of Israel. In that anger, he threatened to consume the nation and to start over with Moses. Moses contended for the people before God, and God heard his prayer and relented. These were people that Moses deeply cared for, protected, and nurtured in the Lord. Moses was the faithful mediator between God and his people. It is natural to think that he loved them as a father loves his children. Here, Moses rejoiced over his children; he blessed them and commended them for a job well done! Moses' delight surely brought joy to his people, just as a father's delight brings joy to his children.
Like the nation of Israel, we long for our Father's delight and blessing. Jesus often told parables during his earthly ministry. One of those parables was about the talents entrusted to three servants. The first servant invested his talents well and heard these words from his master: "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:21). Jesus used this parable to teach his followers that we must be good stewards of all that he has entrusted to us. We are to invest in the kingdom of God, invest in others, share our resources, and give as we have been given. When we faithfully steward these gifts out of love for him, the Lord delights in our work, and we can be assured of his commendation during our earthly lives and when we see him face to face.
Make your heart's desire to hear the Lord speak, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Work heartily unto the Lord. Seek to obey him in all that you do and say. Set your eyes on his kingdom and his priorities. Share your gifts with others and invest in the building of his kingdom.
Reflection:
Is your goal to finish well? Today is the day to set your intention to make the purpose of your will to fulfill his will. Persevere to the end, and you too will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Are you seeking to live your life according to the Lord's commands and guidance all the way to completion? How are you stewarding your gifts to the finish line?
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