Author: John Tillman

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 39 Listen: (5:24) Read: Luke 21 Listen: (4:18)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: Exodus 40 Listen: (4:07) Read: Luke 22 Listen: (7:58)
Read: Leviticus 1 Listen: (2:37) Read: Luke 23 Listen: (6:39)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 39.8-14

8 They fashioned the breastpiece—the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 9 It was square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. 10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. The first row was carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; 11 the second row was turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; 12 the third row was jacinth, agate and amethyst; 13 the fourth row was topaz, onyx and jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. 14 There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

Reflection: The Breastplate and The Cross

By John Tillman

Who is “near your heart?”

Westerners picture the heart as the seat of our emotions, identity, and self. When someone is near to our heart, their wellbeing is connected with ours. Our heart beats sympathetically with their sufferings. Our heart races with theirs in celebrations. Our heart aches for them when sin darkens their heart, turning them away from joy to bitterness, cynicism, anxiety, or abuse.

Most of scripture’s authors centered emotions in the bowels or diaphragm. We use these metaphors too, speaking about “gut feelings” or something “moving us” or “taking our breath away.”

Aaron’s jeweled breastplate covered his torso. The jewels represented Israel’s tribes. He bore the people near his heart. The breastplate was a tangible reminder of his task, to carry the people with him, representing them before God. Its weight reminded Aaron that he bore their sins and the responsibility to lead them towards righteousness. The gems reflected light from the lampstands in God’s presence, as Aaron and the people were to reflect God’s light to the world.

Who do you carry near your heart? Your spouse? Your family? Your friends and other loved ones? Carrying someone near to your heart is a priestly duty. But there is another wrinkle to our “priestly garments.”

Christ is our high priest, not Aaron. Christ’s holy of holies, where he made atonement was Calvary. Jesus bore no breastplate. He bore the cross for us while we were ungodly. He demonstrated love for us while we were sinners. He died for us while we were his enemies. He prayed, “Father forgive them” over his persecutors.

Our priestly duty goes beyond those for whom we already bear affection. (Luke 6.27-35) As priests under Christ, our enemies must also be on our hearts. We must bear the cross to love, sacrifice, pray for, and seek the good of our enemies as well as our loved ones.

Seeking an enemy’s good doesn’t mean seeking their success in doing evil. The greatest good we can seek for them is to know Christ and repent. Following that, we can pray that they “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly” (Micah 6.8) with God. Failing that, we can pray that their evil will fail to accomplish its purpose.

In your heart, set apart Christ as Lord (1 Peter 3.15) and carry all people, both loved ones and enemies, before him with heartfelt prayers.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. — Psalm 118.26

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Garments of Peace — Guided Prayer

Aaron’s heart felt the weight of Jacob’s children…May our hearts be weighted with loving concern for our communities.

Read more: Enemies Becoming One People

When you even talk about loving your enemies, you can be called a traitor. “Don’t you understand how dangerous they are? You are enabling them!”

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 38 Listen: (4:23) Read: Luke 20 Listen: (5:07)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 38.21

21 These are the amounts of the materials used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant law, which were recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.

Reflection: Counting God’s Plunder

By John Tillman

Why is Ithamar’s account of gifts to the Tabernacle in the Bible? What’s holy about a spreadsheet?

Ithamar wasn’t crediting the people’s generosity. He was counting God’s plunder.

Israel didn’t mine gold for the Tabernacle. They didn’t purchase it or trade for it or find it in their desert wanderings. The Egyptians gave it to them.

As Pharaoh’s heart hardened, God softened ordinary Egyptians’ hearts toward their Israelite neighbors. Faith-filled Israelite women obeyed God and asked their Egyptian neighbors for silver, gold, and clothing. When Israelite women asked, Egyptians gave freely. God described this as “plundering” the Egyptians. God’s blessings passed through female hands. (Exodus 3.21-22)

In the film, The Princess Bride, the man in black pursues Vizzini and his captive princess. Vizzini accuses the man in black of “trying to kidnap what I have rightfully stolen.” Jesus described himself as a thief, tying up a “strong man” in order to plunder his house. In the Exodus, God proved himself stronger than all the Egyptian gods, tying them up with his plagues. Then he plundered Egypt, liberating both people and possessions. When God steals, he liberates that which does not belong to those who hold it. Christ kidnaps what Satan has rightfully stolen.

In Christ, we are liberated from a kingdom of darkness into a kingdom of light (Colossians 1.13) and gifted with blessings we did not earn. (2 Corinthians 8.9) What the world gives us is not from the world anymore than what the Egyptians gave the Israelites was from Egypt. Neither spiritual nor material blessings belong to us. They are God’s plunder.

When was the last time you accounted for the blessings, the plunder, of God? Like Ithamar, you may need a spreadsheet.

Accounts of God’s blessings often contain moments of actual accounting. Biblical authors regularly note the numerical facts of miraculous events in both the Old and New Testaments. The water jars that were turned to wine held up to thirty gallons. (John 2.6) Over 4,000 people were fed. (Matthew 15.38) 3,000 people were added to their number. (Acts 2.41)

You carry God’s plunder. Have you accounted for it? What are you doing with it? (Luke 19.13)

With God’s plunder, Israel built the Tabernacle—an embassy of Eden where the sovereignty of heaven overlapped and overruled the sovereignty of the world. Put God’s plunder to work as his ambassadors to the world. Make holy space from which God’s blessings flow to all nations and in which slaves can find freedom.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not worship a foreign god.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and said, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” — Psalm 81.8-10

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Consider Supporting Our Work

Support ad-free content that brings biblical devotionals to inboxes across the world. Our work is funded by donors just like you.

Read more: The Gospel Heist

What has sin taken? What traps you? Are you blind, deaf, or dumb? Lame, leprous, or lifeless? Jesus comes to steal you back and set you free.

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 36 Listen: (4:47) Read: Luke 18 Listen: (5:27)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 36.2-6

2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” 6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Reflection: When Is It Enough?

By John Tillman

Talking about money is intimidating, so ministers tend to deflect with humor.

Pastors often joke about this passage, saying: “It’s the only time in the history of God’s people when leaders had to tell people to stop giving instead of begging them to start giving.”

Faithful ministers don’t want to be associated with flamboyant huckster prosperity gospelers who abuse people and wealth. We also feel the lingering influence of the early pilgrims and Puritans. They viewed Europe’s ornamented cathedrals as a gateway to idolatry and adopted an austere aesthetic that remains stuck in the American consciousness.

Whenever a church or ministry does something “big,” such as a new building, production, film, or advertising campaign, Americans question the cost. “Shouldn’t they have fed the poor with this money?” (John 12.4-6)

Americans call ministers greedy if their salaries are similar to leaders of similarly-sized organizations. If they show signs of affluence or success, we question their character.

Because of this, ministers fear perceptions of materialism when asking for money. I fall into this trap too. I don’t talk often enough about our ministry’s financial needs.

The reality is that the ministries and ministers that you know live in the same economy you do. Their housing, food, transportation, and energy costs are comparable to yours. Ministries need cash flow, just like you. The church can’t pay its electric bill with handshakes. Websites don’t run on high-fives.

Bezalel stops the people’s giving because he recognizes when he has enough to do the job. The people were asked to give “from what you have” (Exodus 35.5), and “everyone who was willing” contributed. (Exodus 35.21) The people would never have given if they didn’t realize what they had was more than enough. How do you define enough?

I have seen Bezlel-like leaders say “enough” when giving campaign goals were met. I’ve seen projects built without special giving because the church had already given enough. But many ministries have unmet financial needs or work that is paused due to lack of funds.

Generosity and good leadership require the ability to recognize when we have enough. Do we recognize when we have enough? As individuals? As communities? As ministers? As leaders? Or will we just keep consuming, spending, upgrading, endlessly?

God does not require austerity. He promises abundance. Are we living and giving from abundance? Or are we forcing others to operate in austerity because we can’t say, “I have enough”?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; wash me, and I shall be clean indeed. — Psalm 51.8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Work, Ministry, and Generosity

Which church are you? Are you receiving ministry funded by others or are you supporting ministry to others in need?

Consider Supporting Our Work

Our work needs your support. We can’t do this without donors. Please consider becoming one.