Lay Down Your Gifts (Vlog #2)

"Lay Down" (Lyric Video) ©SoulCorde Music (Paula Walker)

(In Written Form)

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, 

the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, 

with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills — 

to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 

to cut and set stones, to work in wood, 

and to engage in all kinds of crafts.” 

(Exodus 31: 1-5 NIV)

Recently, Pat and I chose to step into the old testament for our daily morning reads. Well, Pat reads aloud as I sit comfortably, sipping from my large mug of French pressed coffee.

Not going to sugarcoat this in any way here, but I found myself drifting off into another world when he was reading about our brilliant boat-building-brother Noah in the book of Genesis, followed thereafter with our bush-burning-brother Moses alongside his glorious-golden-tongued-brother Aaron, in the book of Exodus.

And, don’t get me started on all those laws packed into Leviticus. That’s when I put the brakes on our moving beyond one chapter at a time, and ask Pat to finish with a Psalm to calm my spirit and boggled brain.

I digress, as this is not about that book. It’s about Exodus, after the Red Sea was miraculously split in two and the Israelites stepped as one into freedom.

Something changed in me, after we started watching the show “The Promised Land” on Angel network. The show makes things more relatable — more human (using elements of humour, while honouring the subject matter).

What was all the more wonderful is that we had only just started reading Exodus and everything aligned chronologically with our starting to watch the series.

As Pat began reading out the names and all the things God instructed each to do — in finite detail, I might add — I was listening with more intensity and could somehow see the characters thousands of years ago; obediently living out their very purpose.

I mean, not like they really had much of a choice; save trying to keep from dying from starvation, snakes, or from looking at things they were warned not to look at.

Their stories began to resonate in such a way that I wanted to stop after every verse and unpack it. So, we did.

As such, it took us far longer to get through than just mere combing over the words would typically do, while leaving us without a clue; astonishingly, allowing me to remember such names as Bezalel and all that he was called to do.

Here’s the thing though: Just like a hit song’s writer is often overlooked, the craftsman behind the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle appears to have been overlooked.

That’s right, Bezalel should indeed be a known name within the four walls of any Jewish or Christian home or sanctuary; where they talk about him equally as they do Noah, the maker of Noah’s Ark. Ah, you see, that was redundant on purpose. 

Here’s why I believe we don’t speak about brother Bez: It wasn’t for the remembrance of him that the ark of the covenant or the tabernacle were built. It was for the remembrance of God: “It served as God's dwelling place and a means for His presence to be with Israel, symbolizing His covenant, providing a location for divine communication, and facilitating worship, atonement (via the Mercy Seat), and guidance.” (Thanks AI, for that summary)

I have chosen Bezalel to reference here, as more recently his story has had an impact on me like no other from the old testament. Strange, I realize, as there are inspiring stories like Job’s and all that God restored in his life. Or, in Joseph’s life, after having been sold into slavery by his brothers only to later become the righthand of Pharaoh. The list of stories like these continues. And, all Christians and even many non-Christians have heard references to those famous names and testimonies.

So, why Bez for me?

Well, honestly all I can say here is it’s likely because we don’t hear much — if anything — about him. He’s one of the little guys, hidden behind the curtain of the stage set before his life. Or should I say, behind the curtains of the sacred and Holy space he built.

What makes him special to me is that he followed his purpose without question. He got up in the morning and worked until the close of day, doing as he was called to do; never questioning God with inquiries like, “Why me?” Or, “Am I good enough for this?”

Some might argue, “How do you know what he was thinking, Paula?”

Fair question.

So, instead let’s consider the facts here: he got-er-done.

Nothing is written in scripture to suggest that he stalled in any way.

Assumedly then, he didn’t question his calling and purpose.

He just surrendered his gifts to the creator and got the job done that has become the “Unsolved mystery” talk of the town for centuries now. You know, the “Where is the ark of the covenant now?” And, “Who took it?”

More into why I chose the title, “Lay Down Your Gifts”.

I’d like to start with one of my favourite Biblical chapters in the old testament: Psalm 139.

I love how the Amplified version of this Psalm, verses 13 through 16, read: “For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colours] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.”

I particularly love “[as if embroidered with various colours]”, given its uncanny parallel to Bezalel’s anointed gifting in embroidering the intricate parts of the tabernacle. It’s as if He was framed within his mother’s womb to perfectly frame the Father God’s most Holy place. It’s not happenstance, when you consider that the one who gives us the gifts from first conception would later want us to use them for His glory, as seen both metaphorically and literally in Bezalel’s story.

So the question remains: What are those gifting — “embroidered with various colours” — parts, setting us apart and fully brought to fruition when we lay them at His feet?

I believe it’s one of the most difficult things for people to find, while continually finding ways to survive and pay the bills; succumbing to all of life’s pressures of keeping up with the never-ending rise of inflation, and so forth.

Honestly, how do we lay our gifts at the foot of the cross — surrender them back to the creator who gave them to us in the first place — when we don’t even know what those gifts or callings are? Or, when we don’t have the time to think about them?

Might I suggest something simple here; where we sit, be still and know, where a peace overcomes us and whispers an uncomplicated answer. An answer that has been there on our hearts from childhood. You remember, right? That little boy or girl that used to dream about being…

That same dream that sometimes returns to remind us of those moments we believed we could conquer the world with our invincible daydream believing powers!

Only, reality and the voices of darkness — of doubt and fear — slipped in telling us to “Get a real job” or to “Stop daydreaming” or worse yet, “You’re not good enough.”

If we can recall those moments where those voices slipped in louder than our childhood fantasies, then we will likely recall those “embroidered with various colours” parts that were created for those seemingly out of reach dreams or fantasies; the very purpose and plan He has to “prosper and not to harm […].” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Once we remember that truth, woven into our soul’s frame, we can begin to learn how to surrender them to the craftsman; asking Him “Where to from here, Lord? I’m listening.”

Then, like Bezalel, He will use you to build your own ark of His covenant plans, and a tabernacle for others to step into and receive His love through you.

The one question that overtakes us and allows fear to have its way is “How do I pay the bills, living out my purpose?” Again, I can only assert this: As Bezalel didn’t allow himself to get caught up in such thinking as that, and delay the making of the tabernacle and ark of the covenant, we too must step out in faith; trusting that He will take care of our needs as long as we are walking in His plan and purpose for our lives. 

Matthew 6:26-27 reads, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Some might even take this too literally, suggesting “I’m not creative. How does this apply to me? I’m no Bezalel”

We must then consider this: God established a plethora of unique gifting, often multi-purposed when combined with charisms (spiritual gifts). Some will have the gift of creative writing which can be intertwined with the gift of teaching (sharing knowledge). Some will have the gift of athletics, which can be combined with the gift of giving (generous contributions). You get the picture here.

Where we need to be careful however, is making sure that when we are putting our gifts to use that it’s for the right purpose; not one that is clouded or laced in ego.

The song I am choosing to share with you, echoing this very theme, is called, “Lay Down.” It speaks to a dream that Pat had a few years ago about being pulled in two directions with his music gifts.

When Pat shares his testimony of this at our events, he always ends with “In the words of Bob Dylan, ‘You’ve gotta serve somebody’. So, who ‘ya gonna serve with your gifts?”

I often challenge myself (and Pat) to consider this, as we step fully into our calling: What kind of legacy do we want to leave behind for our grandchildren and their children and so forth?

I certainly don’t want it to be a mere cliche expression, etched into a tombstone.

I believe that once we discover what our gifts are, we should surrender them to the Maker and allow Him to be the shaper of that very “[…] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colours] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]” where He will “complete the work He began in us” (Philippians 1:6) and use us to embroider a legacy worth leaving behind.

I pray that He will speak to your hearts, reminding you of who He has purposed you to be and that you find favour as you walk it out in faith.

Paula