Whispers of Grace
Walking with God is filled with mountaintops and valleys. Join passionate yet flawed Jesus-lover and mother of four Julie Colbeth as she delves into the Scriptures with a refreshingly honest perspective that will bring hope and encouragement to your day.
Whispers of Grace
From Glue Guns to Glory: Method for Christian Service (Part 2 of 4)
The Life of Moses- Episode #33 (Part 2 of 4) 🎨 What if your most ordinary skill is the exact tool God wants to use today? We pick up our "Service" mini-series and move from the why of serving to the how, guided by the striking story of Bezalel and Aholiab in Exodus 35–36. These overlooked artisans were called by name, filled with the Spirit, and entrusted to craft beauty with precision for God’s dwelling. Their example reframes excellence as worship and reminds us that detail, design, and care are not extras in the Christian life—they’re part of faithful obedience.
From there, we draw a line through the New Testament, spotlighting Mary’s surrendered praise, Elizabeth’s Spirit-given confirmation, Lydia’s courageous hospitality, Tabitha’s compassionate craft, and Priscilla’s wise mentorship. Many gifts, one Spirit; many methods, one Lord. Along the way, we challenge the false divide between “holy” and “human” talents and make a case that coding, organising, baking, and parenting can be Spirit-led ministry when offered to Jesus. We also share a quiet masterclass in hidden faithfulness from Robert Chapman, whose unseen service shaped giants like Spurgeon and Müller without chasing applause.
You’ll walk away with a renewed why and a practical how: start small, hone your craft, teach what you know, and look for the need only you can meet. Whether you’re hosting a weary friend, discipling a new believer, or building systems that serve your church, the Holy Spirit delights to multiply your loaves and fish. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find the show. Then tell us: what ordinary gift are you offering this week?
Kia ora, and welcome to Whispers of Grace, a place for women to be encouraged by God's holy word. I'm your host, Julie Colbeth, and I am overjoyed to dig into the Bible with you today. Hello, friends. Welcome to another episode of Whispers of Grace. In this episode, we are finally continuing the miniseries that I started back in May of 2025 on service. Personally, this past year was very different for me. I've done lots of part-time jobs as a stay-at-home mom, but as my family continues to grow and our dynamics have changed, the needs of our home have morphed. So I officially entered the workplace in a full-time position for the first time in 17 years. I also had lots of in-person opportunities to teach at women's retreats and end-of-the-year events and morning teas and things, and it was wonderful. Such a great year and so full. But I haven't quite found my balance yet. So it is with great joy and anticipation that I have taken the summer to dive back into studying and preparing messages for all of you and for the podcast. So I am very excited to get back into this little mini-series. And the first episode in our service mini-series is called Motivation. It was episode number 47 and released on May 5th, 2025. So if it's been a while or you haven't listened to it, please start there because this message builds on the concepts that I laid out in that episode. I know it's been a while since we began this series, so let's just take a minute to refresh our hearts in the core of that message. So we left off at Exodus chapter 35. It talks about the preparations to build the tabernacle. God gave Moses exact instructions along with a long list of required items in Exodus 35 and tells the Israelites that they are to provide the work for the tabernacle. And it says that the Israelites provided for this work with glad hearts. They gave in abundance for the work of the Lord. And with this backdrop, we talked about sifting our own motivations for serving and asking the question: Are you looking to impress man or to please God? The need to ask ourselves repeatedly what our true motivation is in serving cannot be overstated. Often we start out just like the Israelites, giving our gifts to build the tabernacle, flowing freely and joyously, but somewhere along the way we start to look at others and how much they're giving compared to us. Or we get impatient when things don't pan out as we've planned. Pride easily becomes an issue. Unkindness often starts to reside in our hearts, and little voices that jump to judging others or patting ourselves on the back. We can become judgmental and self-righteous or even burnt out. Our hearts so easily go astray. We usually begin well and lose our way somewhere along the way. It's so easy to forget our why. This is why Hebrews 12 2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. When we start looking at ourselves or others, or focus too much on the issues or even the success, it can easily get our motivation off track. But when we remain steadfast in our gaze, our why is clear. We know who we serve, and it doesn't matter what other people think or say or do because we are living for an audience of one. So with that beautiful foundation laid, we move on to look at the method that we serve God. Now, this is a big topic, and there have been many books and courses created to tackle this. We are going to approach it from the lens of our text. So it will not be comprehensive, but we're going to draw from the sections of scripture that the Lord has placed us in to see what we can glean from Exodus. So today we will study Bezalel and Oholiab, the artisans that built the tabernacle, in Exodus 35 and 36. And we're going to tie them together with some other New Testament servants to see what we can glean from their approach to service. In modern times, I think we take it for granted that we have the Holy Spirit living within us as believers. In Old Testament times, the filling of the Holy Spirit was a special and a rare gift. It was not a common occurrence. The anointing or filling of the Holy Spirit was selective, and it was usually task-oriented. The Spirit would come upon someone, like we read about King Saul, and the Spirit could also depart, like he did from Samson when he disobeyed the Lord. It was a completely different relationship with the Holy Spirit until the day of Pentecost, which happened 50 days after Jesus' death, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers. But can you imagine in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was not accessible to everyone? Most followers of God never experienced it. Jesus even told his disciples in John 16:7 that it would be better for them if Jesus went away so that the advocate, the Holy Spirit, could indwell them. I can imagine how confused the disciples must have been. But think of it, you and I are in a better position than all those that came before. A better position than even the disciples experienced before Pentecost. And today we are going to look at some of the very first recorded people that were filled with the Holy Spirit. These men were not kings or prophets, they weren't priests or great warriors. They didn't make laws or lead God's people. They didn't part any sees or preach sermons or conquer nations, and their names are rarely even recognized. These men were artisans that were specifically chosen by God to build his earthly dwelling place, his house, known as the Tent of Meeting or the Tabernacle. I'm going to read Exodus chapter 35, verses 30 to 34, and also a little bit from chapter 36 and verse 2. This is the section that introduces us to our craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab. Now, when I'm reading, listen to how much emphasis is put on God calling, God filling, and equipping these artists for their work. Verse 30 says, Then Moses told the people of Israel, The Lord has specifically chosen Bezalel, son of Uri, grandson of Hur of the tribe of Judah. The Lord has filled Bezalel 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 and silver and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. And the Lord has given both him and Oholiab, son of Ahisimach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others. The Lord has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth and weavers, they excel as craftsmen and as designers. So Moses summoned Bezalel and Aholiab, and all the others who were specifically gifted by the Lord, and were eager to get to work. Did you catch all the phrases that show how important these gifted men were? It says the Lord specifically chose Bezalel and Oholiab, and he filled them with the Spirit of God, and with great wisdom, ability, and expertise. The first time that we read of that in our Bible, it says that they excelled at their craft and were eager to apply their special gifts to this work of the Lord. Now I think it says something so interesting about the Lord that some of the first recorded people to be filled with the Holy Spirit were artists. Men that were passionate about crafting beauty, the ones who would get excited about showing a new idea for a design to their spouse, or who could forget to eat because they were so deeply engrossed in their projects. Men who found fulfillment in making beautiful things, just like their creator God. Our God loves beauty. He's the master artisan and is deeply invested in details, the things that make life more lovely. Just listen to the call of a Tui in the branch of a tree. Smell the fragrance of a rose standing up proudly on a summer day. Watch the mist roll over the mountains as the sun takes the sky for a new morning, or observe the night sky exploding with stars glistening, each in their place, or take in the glory of a rainbow painted through the clouds with its glowing colors. Hold a newborn baby in your arms and feel the hum of a new life coursing through their little body. This world is exquisite. Jehovah is a God of detail, design, intricacy, and color. We are drawn to creating things because of who our Heavenly Father is. Our inspiration and joy in creativity flows as a direct result of his artistic creative heart. We are his reflection. And God wanted that passion for beauty to be reflected in his earthly dwelling place. So God handpicked his craftsmen and he filled them up with his own glorious spirit. The work of building the tabernacle was so sacred and holy. These artisans were responsible for crafting an earthly depiction of heavenly realities. They held great responsibility to follow the plans with exact precision that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. Their work was an act of worship and it took great care. But God didn't ask the artisans to do such an important and specific work without empowering them to do it. The New King James Version says that Bezalel and Aholiab were called by name for this special task. God knew before the foundations of time who these men would be. In fact, he created them inside their mothers' wombs with talents that were needed for the sacred work. The Lord watched them grow in mind and body and watched them quicken at the sight of a chisel and a block of stone. He saw them start to dabble and then dive headlong into their artistic projects, always learning and sharpening their skills. When they were slaves in Egypt, maybe they helped construct the pyramids or make Pharaoh's elaborate headdresses or clothing. They could have carved sarcophagus or made jewelry for the Egyptian leaders. Who knows what it looked like? But whatever their previous lives were, every project that they were involved in was a stepping stone to eventually build the house of Jehovah, the earthly dwelling place of the Spirit of God, the place that his glory physically lived on earth. These artisans were chosen and they were equipped with skills. Now, maybe you were a whiz with a glue gun or a potter's wheel, and maybe your best efforts at stick people fall short. But before listening to this message, would you think that artistic talent is so strongly from the Lord? I think we tend to subdivide our talents into God things and human things. We feel like the spiritual gifts that we see listed in the Bible are anointed. The gift of helps and prophecy, miracles and teaching and giving and discernment and mercy and so on. But the ability to problem solve, that doesn't count. Or your crazy baking skills, or your ability to organize, those things maybe aren't as holy. Your ability to code a computer or run a marathon or change a nappy on your lap, on a bus, one-handed, while still soothing a toddler. These skills that we tend to value less. And granted, not each skill is equal, but all are relevant and important. And I think that we have forgotten that God made all of us. He knows each piece of us and he wants to work with all of it. God is intimately acquainted with all of your skills. He knows your strengths and passions, and he wants to work with you to bring him glory. Ecclesiastes 9 10 gives this encouragement. Mash those carrots and breastfeed at 2 a.m. all for the glory of God. If you have a job in service and you deal with difficult people all day, God wants you to love on them and let him grow you in your patience. If you're a student, God wants you to learn and grow and absorb information. Allow him to change you through the knowledge. If you're a leader, God wants you to shepherd those in your care, learning to die to yourself while you serve others. Just like Bezalel and the Oholiab, God has chosen and equipped you for specific tasks. Maybe you feel like you're in a dry season, a confusing season, or even a season of deep doubt, like the Israelites must have felt when they were slaves in Egypt. But God doesn't waste a minute of our experiences when we surrender ourselves to Him. You are unique and called to serve God in unique ways. Who knows what your dark seasons will birth or what talents God is storing up through your experiences. Whatever is given to you and whatever your day holds, it is meant to be consecrated to him. Ephesians 2 10 tells us that we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. We are the work of a master artisan. He created us with very different passions and skills, and our gifts are all called to be shared. Even the things that we deem less holy than others. God has good things planned for you to accomplish, just like Bezalel and a holiab. In his book, Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis said that when we are fully obedient, we shall be fully ourselves. And isn't that the way of it? When we are fully obedient, we are fully ourselves. I know I never feel more truly like myself than when I'm using my gifts. And it was just like that for Bezalel and Aholiab. I hear a whole lot of passion and joy and confidence when I read the section in Exodus. It says that these artisans were eager to begin the work. They were happy to be the foreman and construction crew. They threw themselves in, they rolled up their sleeves, and they grabbed their identity with both hands, and they eagerly gave themselves to the work. We need to confidently flow in our gifts, enthusiastically honing them in whatever ways God has placed before us. I'm going to read 1 Corinthians 12, verses 4 to 11 in the New Living Translation, because I grew up reading the New King James, and this section just hits different in the New Living Translation. It says this there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so that we can help each other. To one person, the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice. To another, the 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 of these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. Things radically changed after Jesus, and this list given here it never claims to be exhaustive. The New Testament talks lots about the Spirit-empowered people doing all sorts of things to build up the kingdom of God. Here's some that come to mind. Mary, the mother of Jesus, it says that she experienced the empowering of the Holy Spirit when she conceived Jesus. She praised and magnified the Lord when she was chosen and filled. If you read the Song of Mary in Luke chapter 1, you will see the simple faith of a young woman on display, glorifying God through the empowering of the Spirit. Elizabeth, Mary's cousin, who gave birth to John the Baptist, was also filled with the Holy Spirit and was given a word of knowledge for Mary. She affirmed the divinity of Jesus before he was even born, which must have brought such comfort and confirmation to Mary's heart. In Acts chapter 9, we read about Tabitha, a woman who was full of good works, and was known for her work with the poor. When she died, the mourners held up the clothing that she made for them and wept and praised her faithful service. And as a result, the Apostle Peter raised her from the dead so she could continue in her important and impactful ministry, sewing clothes for the body of Christ and caring for the less fortunate. Her good works spoke volumes about the goodness of God. Another woman that the Spirit empowered was Lydia from Acts chapter 16. She was the very first convert to Christianity in her city of Philippi. She was known as a wealthy merchant who already was worshiping God, but immediately after her salvation, she rolled up her sleeves and got involved hosting Paul and Silas. I can imagine her giving them that look and not taking no for an answer. You're coming home with me, boys. And she fed them and cared for them, and then the Philippian church was born in her house, and was grown through her hospitality and devotion. Priscilla is another woman that was filled with wisdom, and she had the ability to teach. She was used as a mentor to a man named Apollos, who is described in Acts 18 as being an eloquent speaker who knew the scriptures well, yet he didn't have the full picture of the gospel. So she came alongside him with her husband Aquila and explained the gospel to him in detail. Acts tells us that she helped to teach him, which helped to shape the early church. She functioned boldly in her gift, and the Lord multiplied the effect of the boldness. Phoebe also blessed the early church with her finances and was personally commended by Paul in one of his letters for her support of the church and the apostles. Now I mention these ladies because I think we often breeze over their roles in the church. These women were powerhouses in the early church. Their faithful service housed believers, they clothed the church, they financed missions. These ladies fed and led and discipled and prayed. They moved in the spirit, and they were used mightily to spread the gospel, and their lives diffused the fragrance of Christ in every place, in simple obedience, in simple ways. And they are no different than you or me. They gave their lives to Jesus, they were empowered by the Spirit, and they got to work with what was right in front of them. They seized opportunities to help and support, to teach or encourage, and all the while managing their households, caring for their families, as well as the poor, and bringing meals to hungry apostles. These women were empowered to serve in such integral ways in the early church. Now, some of their gifts are named, but many more are just shown through their faithful service. All these gifts are useful and necessary to build up the kingdom. And many of their gifts look ordinary, just like Bezalel and Aholiab, but these gifts are spirit saturated and useful to the Lord. Just like it says in that chapter we just read in 1 Corinthians 12, there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we all serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in each of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so that we can help each other. That is what I see happening in the early church through these women and through their lives. They are each functioning as they are called. Reminds me of Ecclesiastes 9 10 that says, Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all of your might. So don't just bake cookies, bake heavenly cookies that point to Jesus and sharpen our longing for our true heavenly home. Don't just watch your neighbor's kids. Cook with them, read to them, teach them, love them, fill their little cups to overflowing. The world understands this. They see the importance of excellence. How much more should the church be excited and ready to pour out to the best of our abilities? Don't just host a family. Bless them with more than they could ever imagine. I recently experienced this myself. I stayed with a friend for a night and I walked away feeling lighter and blessed and beaming because of her tender care for me. Everything was thought of. Every need of mine was met. Even things that I didn't think I needed or wanted, she knew. It actually brought me to tears because I was just so blessed by the thoughtful care that she showed me. At one point I was reading my Bible and she came over and put a blanket around my shoulders and slid my favorite cup of tea next to me and walked away. She didn't say a word, but I was just so blown away by the power of such simple acts, truly. It was abundantly clear to me that the Holy Spirit was working through her in her joyful service to build me up. And it's incredible when that happens because everyone wins. She's full of joy. I was full of joy. God was glorified. It's how we were made. Church, friends, you are called. You are gifted, and you are empowered with the Holy Spirit to build the kingdom of God. I want to encourage you with the life of a man that many people don't know about. His name was Robert Chapman. He lived from 1803 to 1902 in England. He was one of the most influential Christians in 19th century England, and yet most of us have never heard his name. He worked alongside people that we have heard of, like Charles Spurgeon and J.C. Ryle, George Mueller and Hudson Taylor. Charles Spurgeon himself called Chapman the saintliest man I ever knew. And George Mueller considered him his closest counselor and friend. Now, Chapman was the silent support to so many he was working in the background. He was known for not merely preaching Christ, but his whole life was a testimony. He lived Christ. He was known for his great wisdom and peacemaking abilities, yet he lived a very simple, humble life of pastoral service. He had a passion for missions and often hosted people that were on furlough or struggling or having a hard time. And when he had guests come and stay, he would ask that they leave their shoes outside their room at night. And then he would clean each of his guests' shoes while they slept. It was his simple, practical way to wash the feet of the saints. Now, this simple commitment to serve others, even in such small detail, is what I think is the very heart of ministry. It's the last color in the rainbow that can barely be seen. It's the flex of color in the cat's eye, or the intricacy of a plant's root system. It's the common beauty that we miss because we think flashy messages and likes and follows are the only way that we can measure success. A beautiful quote from Chapman said this what is most precious in the sight of God is often least noticed by men. I think in our day and age of social media, it is so important to remember this. We cannot judge our worth and our value based on what people see or what they acknowledge, because often the little things that we faithfully do unseen in the background truly make the biggest difference. Now, Chapman, he lived passionately for Jesus. He was a gifted evangelist and he pastored for over 70 years, and he was quietly supporting the work of God and funding missions. Behind the scenes, he was praying, he was cleaning boots, and he was supporting other people when they were weak. He was like Tabitha, making clothes for the body of Christ, working to fill needs and support his brothers and sisters. And you know the reason that most of us have never heard of him is because he burnt most of his sermons and journals because he did not want to be known or put on a pedestal. Now, I don't think that that's what everybody is called to do, but it is a really good reflection of how content he was in his simple service. He didn't need other people to recognize it. Second Corinthians two, two through five says this, for I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was with you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Our simple, faithful lives speak of Jesus. Our joyful service builds the kingdom. We demonstrate the power of the Spirit when we flow in our callings and pour ourselves out for one another, as simple and small as it might be. And we are not left alone to fulfill our callings. I love the story in the New Testament about the little boy with his five loaves and his two fish that brought them to Jesus. They were looking for food for thousands of people, and all they could find was a little boy's lunch. It must have seemed ridiculous to all of the adults. He didn't have a whole lot until Jesus touched it. And every time that simple food was broken, it multiplied. Hand to hand, it became more and more and more until it was more than enough for all the needs at hand. I know sometimes we look at the needs around us and feel overwhelmed. We don't know where to start or what to do, or maybe it feels intimidating to step out. Or maybe you've become a master at pointing out flaws and deficiencies in your church or the church, but haven't really been a part of the solutions in quite a while. Don't just stand back and criticize. Ask how you can help. Start small. Look around for what stands out that you can do. And pay special attention to the tasks that only you can do and branch out from there. Don't be overwhelmed by the big decisions because maybe you can't put a label on your gift yet, or maybe you don't know what the big plan is. And that's okay. I know that you have small obediences to walk in and simple ways to remain faithful. Keep praying. Keep surrendering. Keep in your word, and God is so faithful, He will give you those baby steps to walk in. Luke 16 10 says, If you are faithful in the little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater. Are you faithful with what you've been given? Are you stewarding your gifts well? Are you honing your skills with practice and care like Bezalel and Aholiab? Are you open and looking for opportunities to teach others the things that you know? Or are you too obsessed with perfection to let anyone else in? Ephesians 4 1 says this. Therefore, I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Now maybe this is a message that you've grown up hearing. Spiritual gifts is something that I heard a lot growing up, but maybe this is a new concept for you to think about. Either way, there's incredible power in believers who submit their lives and hearts to Jesus and allow his spirit to flow freely through their lives. We are meant for a purpose, each of us functioning in our gifts to build up the kingdom of God. Small stones crafted together make big walls. And the amazing beautiful thing is that we have not been left as orphans. We have the power of the Holy Spirit literally living within us, guiding us, correcting us, and leading us. We can't lose. So pray for people, open up your home, invite others in, clean up a mess that you didn't make, or encourage a friend that's struggling. Be courageous. Visit someone in the hospital or help a new mom. Teach and disciple. Serve at your kids' school. Volunteer to help at church. Sing, dance, organize, bake, create, share the gospel with someone. Be a bold witness for Jesus. Step in and step up. And stop looking at yourself and your insufficiencies or your worries and start looking just at Jesus. You will remember your deep why. You will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and your simple acts of kindness can move mountains. I'm going to leave you with first Peter chapter four verses ten through eleven. It says this. 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 for ever and everything.
