The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. Exodus 35:29
Our text today follows the instructions that God gave to Moses – and that Moses passed on to the children of Israel – to collect the material and the talent needed to build the Tabernacle, where the presence of God was to dwell. The people brought a willing offering, and their hearts made them willing to do the work. Moses must have been delighted at the response. And we know that God was pleased too. Because He appreciates the same response today from those who would build up His dwelling place.
God’s dwelling place today is not a physical structure such as the Tabernacle in the wilderness or any of the lavish ‘church’ buildings or temples religion loves to build these days. He dwells in a spiritual edifice made up of the hearts of all who have trusted His only begotten Son for salvation. And He dwells in the local representation of that edifice, every Assembly of saints that are gathered together in the Name of that same Son. For the support of that Assembly and its activities, God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). That cheerful giver is the same as the one who brought the willing offering in our text.
The heart that made them willing is just as important now as in Exodus days. There was work to do in the manufacture of that amazing Tabernacle in the wilderness, just as there is work today in the building up and the maintenance of God’s Assembly. There is the Word of God to study, and there is the vital prayer of the saints that is so critical… and these are efforts that all of us can and should willingly throw ourselves into. Whether we preach, or support the preaching, there is the Gospel that needs our willing efforts. And so much more… God is looking for hearts with a love for Him so strong that we are willing to give and to work. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/GdXLy9cX0sc