Every day when I wake up, I seize the promises of God and hold onto them. One of those promises comes from Matthew.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

I’m now in my third semester of classes, working to obtain my Master’s degree. Therefore, I have a lot of work to do. Yet, each day, except for Sunday, I could wake up and start working. Instead, I pray and commit hours to worship the Lord before I get to work that day.

Classes for this semester started last week, and I already feel behind. Although I schedule my time wisely, I cannot account for some things. One of those things is the moving of the Holy Spirit. If my devotional time with the Lord takes longer than I expected, that cuts into my time for the rest of the day to do those things I need to do. Thus, anything else that goes differently than planned can lead to stress when I finish the day with things undone.

While I’m not neglecting my assignments, they will be turned in on time; I still stress when it takes me longer to read this thing or I don’t understand it right away. Ironically, I also stress when I get really interested in something, and my interest increases the time I spend on something.

As I was studying Exodus 25 today, the Lord brought something to my attention.

In Exodus 35:4, the Lord commands the Israelites to give an offering to build the Tabernacle. In Exodus 35:5-9 the Lord gives them a list of materials ranging from “gold, silver, and bronze” to “onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and [the] breastpiece” (Exodus 35:5,9 NIV). Then, in Exodus 35:10, the Lord gives another command.

“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded:”

Exodus 35:10 (NIV)

After this, the Lord gives a list of things that need to be built in Exodus 35:11-19, ranging from “the tabernacle with its tent and its covering” to “the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests” (Exodus 35:11,19 NIV).

What stood out this morning was the people’s response.

Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments (emphasis added).

Exodus 35:20-21 (NIV)

This question popped into my head: “Are you willing?”

I thought about what the Lord asked the people to do and everything he asked them to do. The Lord gave them everything they needed. From the offering to the skilled workers to accomplish the tasks (Exodus 35:25, 30, 34). Indeed, if it weren’t enough that there were qualified people to do what the Lord commanded, he also gave the ability to teach these skills to those willing.

There was another component involved with those who were willing. Their “hearts moved them” to do what the Lord commanded. For their hearts to be moved, they needed to believe. They needed faith to believe. When we consider these Israelites, the faithless bunch so willing to turn to other gods at the drop of a hat and who complain every chance they get. Incredibly, they had the faith to believe and be willing. Indeed, they were so enthusiastic about serving the Lord that they had to be “restrained” from giving (Exodus 36:6 NIV).

So, as I thought about the question, “Am I willing?” I realized I was being asked, “Are you willing, to believe?” Am I willing to believe the promise of Matthew 6:33? Am I willing to believe that God brought me to this point in my life to not let me fail? That just because things don’t work out in my timing, they are still in God’s perfect timing? Why yes, yes I am. I am willing to believe.

Are you?

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.