Exodus 35:21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

For all His service speaks to me this morning. Let nothing that ought to be done, go undone. It takes every heart that has been stirred to see that the work of the tabernacle of the congregation is completed.

Luke 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

I am reminded of this verse in how easy it is to miss the needs of one among five thousand. Having servants to look to the needs of fifty offers an opportunity to meet everyone’s needs. It takes servants to do the work of the ministry and we need them all. No one should ignore the stirring of their hearts in service.

What I hate to hear is any phrase that begins with “I am not”. What? Talented, gifted, learned, ready, are those the things you are not? Did you think Jesus rose up out of His baptism ready somehow to serve and had not been prepared beforehand? Listen to this.

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Jesus grew up in the synagogue, was known by the leader of His synagogue, and chosen to read the scrolls. As was His custom shows us that Jesus did not step up out of obscurity to lead His people free. He grew up to be a man known to be trustworthy enough to be given responsibility in the tabernacle of the congregation.

It is the same with you and me. We all grow up in the Lord because we serve others.

Psalm 18:1-2 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

As I read this Psalm this morning I came to realize that the only part in which I have any control is in my will to love and my will to trust. Everything else is classified as a dependency. I can declare all the other things not because of who I am or what I have done, but rather who God is and what He has done.

As I think about it, love and trust have been provided by God but rather than a dependency they are reciprocal forces.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Psalm 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

In the end we are totally dependent upon God for everything and in return He asks only that we trust in the love that He has placed in us.

John 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

1 John 4:16-18 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.