God begins the chapter with an invitation, not a demand: “Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive the offering from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.” The dwelling place of God was not built by force. It was built by willing hearts, by people who wanted His presence more than they wanted to hold on to their treasures. Gold, linen, oil, wood, every gift became part of a sanctuary where God would live among them. The same is true today. God still builds His dwelling place in the same way, through hearts that say, “Lord, You can have this. You can have me.” When we offer Him our time, our gifts, our obedience, our creativity, our yes. He makes a home right in the middle of our ordinary lives.

It reads in Exodus 25:1–9 Easy: The Lord said to Moses: ‘Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. Every person who wants to give can make a gift to me. You must receive their gifts. These are the gifts that you must receive from the people as an offering: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and red material; good linen and goat’s hair; red leather from sheep’s skins and other good leather; wood from acacia trees; olive oil for the lamps; spices for the special oil and for incense with a nice smell; onyx and other jewels to fix on the priest’s ephod and his breastpiece. You must tell the Israelites to make a special place to be my home. Then I will live among them. I will show you how to make this tabernacle and everything that you will put inside it. But you must make everything in the way that I tell you.

Father God, make my heart willing. Take what I offer, and build a place where Your presence is welcome, honored, and at home. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.