“For glory and for beauty”.
This phrase is repeated multiple times in Exodus 28 as God instructs Moses in how the priestly garments are to be made.
The tabernacle and its furnishings, the priestly garments, everything about God’s dwelling place was to be constructed from precious materials with craftsmanship, skill, intricacy, integrity, creativity, and beauty.
In our day of minimalist design, the ornateness of the tabernacle almost surprised me. “Couldn’t those resources be put to better use, God?” I found myself beginning to think.
Then it hit me. The tabernacle housed the presence of God. The tabernacle represented His glory, beauty, and majesty. OF COURSE it and everything that furnished it and everyone who entered it had to be beautiful…because God is beautiful. His glory is incomparable.
Then it hit me again. The tabernacle housed the presence of God…now WE house the presence of God. We who have been redeemed, who have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit, together are the temple of the Living God. We exist to be a vivid representation of the glory of God.
When we make our houses beautifully warm and welcoming houses of hospitality and fellowship, we are reflecting His glory. When we roll out a pastry crust into an intricate leaf pattern even though it will be consumed in minutes, we are reflecting His intricacy. When we tend our roses and trim back the weeds in our garden, we are reflecting His beauty.
How much more, then, when we, by the cleansing of His blood and through the power of His Spirit, beautify our hearts to live in holiness…with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…do we reflect His glory and His beauty?
Church, we ARE the tabernacle. We were redeemed “for glory and for beauty.” Let your life be a beautiful, fragrant freewill offering unto Him today. Take joy in creating beauty around you. For with each shelf you dust, each cake you decorate, each wall you paint, each flower you trim, each hurt you forgive, each need you meet, each word of praise you sing, each burden you share, you are reflecting the glory and beauty of the God who saved you.
Photo credit: Background photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash.com.