Equipped

Do you remember what it was like when you first decided to follow Jesus? Do you remember the freedom of sins forgiven and chains broken? I remember that when I decided to follow Christ I started to devour the Bible. I longed to know what this new life in Christ meant and what it was going to look like. I craved instruction for how to live following Christ. In the later half of Exodus, we read about the second generation of freed Israelites as they were starting out in their new lives of freedom in the Promised Land and they too were given instructions to guide them in their new, free lives. Not just the law of the ten commandments, but instructions on how to build the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, furnishings, tables, utensils, alters, etc. (Exodus 31:7-11). God’s presence was going to be among the people so things had to be made a specific way; as such, God equipped people with specific sets of skills.

“‘Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft! And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make.’” (Exodus 31:2-6)

The specific way things were to be done required specific skills, and God was clear that He had given the Spirit to Bezalel so that he would have great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. God isn’t going to command people to do something that He won’t also equip them to do. God had given Bezalel the specific skill set to accomplish what needed to be done. God required something and He equipped His people to meet those requirements. Paul and Peter wrote extensively about the fact that gifts come from the Spirit and that God equips His people for specific purposes.

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” (Romans 12:6-8)

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11)

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

What gifts has the Spirit bestowed upon you? How is God commanding you to use these gifts? If you do not know the answers to these questions, spend some time specifically asking the Spirit what gifts He has given you and asking the Father to show you what He wants you to use these for. You may also want to reach out to a close brother or sister in the faith who might be able to help you see what gifts they see in you. 

“‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Remember the ultimate task we have all been given as Christ followers is to go and make disciples—and God will not ask something of you that He has not equipped you to do. Always be on the watch for what God has equipped you to do and remember that He is always with you, even to the very end of the age. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed