Daily Devotions
Willing Hearts
Title: Willing Hearts
Reading for January 26: Exodus 35-37
Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "This is the thing that the LORD has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD's contribution..."
Exodus 35:4-5
One of the themes that jumps off the page from chapters 35 and 36 in Exodus is that God's tabernacle was provided for and made by freewill offerings.
- "Whoever is of a generous heart" (35:5)
- "everyone whose heart stirred him" (35:21)
- "everyone whose spirit moved him" (35:21)
- "All who were of a willing heart" (35:22)
- "All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill..." (35:26)
- "All the men and women... whose heart moved them... brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD." (35:29)
- "everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work" (36:2)
- "They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning" (36:3)
Our God has not changed. His expectations are the same today. Our contributions are to be made generously, and acts of mercy are to be done cheerfully (Rom 12:8). "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7). We are to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27).
Father, help us to love you with all we have today. May we lay down our lives for others as willing sacrifices and bring glory and honor to your name!
