Live the Word Bible Studies

Welcome to Live the Word

I am happy you have visited this site, where my goal since 2001 has been to help people all over the world understand and then apply the word of God in their lives. If you look on the right hand side of this blog site, you will see the name of each book in the New Testament, where you will find what I call a devotional commentary for every verse in those books. My goal was not to do a technical study, but rather a practical one that presented not only insights, but also questions and recommendations to help you apply or live the word. I have now published those studies in book form, but it's time to expand my work with something new (pictured here are two of my commentary covers, and they are all available in paper or Kindle format from Amazon).

For several years, I have had the idea to develop a Purpose Study Bible, similar to others on the market like The Spirit-Filled Bible, The Leadership Bible, The African Bible, and The Student Bible. Each one of those incorporates insights about a particular topic right in the Bible itself, like an easy-to-use commentary. I have been teaching on the topics of purpose, creativity, goal setting, time management, and faith since 1991, and have gained insight and often taught about or written about those topics from a biblical perspective. For the remainder of my days, I want to share what I have learned with my readers on these five topics I have labeled the five Gold Mine Principles, and this format seems like an economical way to do so (since I am not ready to undertake publishing a Bible). This particular study will begin in Genesis and move on in an orderly fashion through the rest of the Old Testament. Should God prolong my days, I will then move into the New Testament.

I also want to learn from my readers, so I invite you to post comments to supplement, adjust, or augment what I have written. My goal, however, is not to make us all experts on what the Bible has to say about purpose or creativity, but rather to help us become people of purpose, for as Jesus said, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:17). That is why my commentaries are called Live the Word, for that is what we are expected to do.

I hope you enjoy reading these studies as much as I enjoy writing them, and I hope you will be an active participant by sharing your own insight and testimonies. Thank you, and may the Lord bless the study and reading of His word!

Purpose Study Bible 95: A Fragrant Blend

God gave specific instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle and everything to be used in it as well. One of those things was the oil to anoint the furnishings and the priests:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus, 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy" (Exodus 30:22-29).

Notice that the oil was to be a "fragrant blend" so that whatever it anointed would also have a pleasant aroma--and probably a lasting one. Oil is symbolic of the Spirit's presence and one's anointing is what the Spirit is present to empower someone to accomplish in life and ministry. This work is therefore to have a pleasant aroma to God as did Jesus' work: "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). Paul described the aroma of the good works the Philippians did: "I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (Philippians 4:18).

When do you smell the best to God? What do you do or where do you do it that you know God anoints you with His presence? Did you realize that when you do it, you send off a fragrance that is certainly pleasing to Him and probably noticeable by others? "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:15). Do you see that what you are anointed to do is to make a positive, pleasant difference in the world around you as well as being a pleasing act to the Lord?

Purpose Study Bible 94: Wayward Creativity

You are a creative being by God's design, created in the image of the Creator to be a little-c creator. You cannot help but be creative. How you plan your day, how you do your job, how you raise your children, and even how you structure your spoken sentences are just a few expressions of your creativity. If you are not aware of this fact and take measures to properly express it, it will come out in ways the Lord did not intend. Consider this story of Aaron, Moses' brother, whose creativity went off the rails while Moses was away on business:

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt" (Exodus 32:-4).

What expressions of creativity are present in these few verses? Consider these:

1. The people created a plan for worship.
2. Aaron then devised a plan to gather the necessary resources.
3. Aaron shaped a golden calf from their donated precious metals, which required a blueprint and the skill to do so.
4. The people were creative in their theology when they saw the calf.

As you can see, the people's creativity did not go dormant or stagnate, but instead found a way to express itself. What's more, they enthusiastically embraced strategies to carry it out in the wrong way.Perhaps we should consider that if we do not acknowledge our creativity, we will tend to apply it in ways that are at least not meaningful and at worst idolatrous and wayward. How are you using the creativity God gave you? To further His Kingdom or to build your own? To comfort you in times of stress or as a means to be fruitful in the work God has assigned you to do?

Purpose Study Bible 93: Collaboration

In the last study, we learned that God had filled a man named Bezalel with His Spirit to do all kinds of creative things. He was not alone, however, as we learn in this week's lesson:

"Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand—and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place" (Exodus 31:6-11).

God empowered and equipped others to work on Bezalel's team so that together they would make all that was needed for Tabernacle worship.

Your creative gifts are meant to be expressed in a team setting as well. We read, "What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up" (1 Corinthians 14:26). We also know that "to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:7). And finally, we are taught that we are to use our creativity to build up others: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18-19).

Are you using your creative gifts for the good of others? Do you express those gifts as a member of a team or do you prefer to work alone because working with others causes you to lose control of exactly how you would like to create? Do you know how to collaborate with others on creative projects so that together you may do more than any of you could do individually? Pray that God will open your eyes to see where and how you can work with others to take advantage of Jesus' promise that He will be in the midst whenever and wherever two or three are gathered—even if it's for a creative project outside the setting of the church.

Purpose Study Bible 92: Arts and Crafts

As we learned in the last study, the ability to visualize and carry out artistic designs and ideas are God-given. Once God had described what He wanted in the tabernacle, we read

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).

God is a good organizer so He not only made provision for the design of the furnishings but also empowered and equipped certain people to make them. Notice that He filled the artisans with His Spirit, not to preach, teach, or prophecy, but to make arts and crafts using precious metals and stones, wood, and textiles.

Their creativity for these artists was not a hobby but their life's purpose. What's more, their skill was learned and honed in Egypt, perhaps under the tutelage of Egyptian mentors. In other words, they learned from "worldly" masters who added their wisdom to God's anointing for the work that was eventually to be done in the Wilderness—another example of God's ability to provide and organize for His own purposes.

What has the Spirit of God filled you to do where art and crafts are concerned? Do you have a creative skill? Are you working to make it all it can be, even if that means seeking training from secular sources? Do you treat your creativity as a hobby or as an important impartation from the Lord, to be used for His glory and under His direction? What more can you do with it and who can you teach what you know to do?

Purpose Study Bible 91: Follow the Instructions

Have you ever had to assemble something your purchased, being told it was "easy assembly" if you followed the "simple" step-by-step instructions? Was it that easy after all? Perhaps it was for some seem to be able to assemble those kinds of things without even looking at the directions while others often struggle. The Lord gave His people instructions in Exodus 30 as to how to make an altar:

“Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on each of the opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Put the altar in front of the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law—before the atonement cover that is over the tablets of the covenant law—where I will meet with you" (Exodus 30:1-6).

If you were given those instructions, would you have been able to build the altar? If you could, then you have a creative gift to do so, for some could not even though the instructions were pretty clear. The same was true for Noah, for his ability to build the ark was an expression of his creativity and not just a matter of following the "simple" instructions.

Do you have a creative gift to assemble or make things? Do you see that gift as special and God-given? What are you doing with that gift? Are you designing and constructing things, whether in the wood shop, metal shop, art studio, or sewing room? As we will see in the next few studies, the workers' creativity was a gift from God and yours is too. That's the reason you must honor it by using it not as a hobby but as a front-and-center part of your life and work.

Purpose Study Bible 90: Bloodied Garments

In addition to the furnishings and coverings for the Tabernacle, the people were to make garments for the priests to wear when they were on official business:

"And you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod and the breastpiece, and wrap his waist with the skillfully woven band of the ephod; and you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban. Then you shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head, and anoint him. You shall also bring his sons and put tunics on them. And you shall wrap their waists with sashes, Aaron and his sons, and fit caps on them, and they shall have the priesthood by a permanent statute. So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons" (Exodus 29:5-9 NAS).

You can read more about these garments in chapter 28 which describes what they were made of and how they were made. They were to be exquisite vestments made with the finest materials and the utmost attention to detail. Then we read something shocking in Exodus 29:21: "Then you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his garments, and on his sons and on his sons’ garments with him; so he and his garments shall be consecrated, as well as his sons and his sons’ garments with him." After the priests were dressed and during their ordination, the people were to splash the blood of the ordination sacrifice on the priests' beautiful clothes (along with some oil)! That would be like splashing blood and spilling salad dressing on a bride's wedding dress or the groom's tuxedo. Why did the Lord require this to be done?

There had to be a sign of death in the life's work the priests were assigned. Since we are now a kingdom of priests, there must be a sign of death in the life that comes from our purpose and creativity as well. For us, that is the sign of the Cross in that what we do, we do for Him in ways He prescribes. That doesn't mean we only express the best of who we are in church, but we must be mindful whenever we work or play that "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24 NLT). We must "give up our own way" of where we fulfill our purpose and how we will use our creativity. That may mean you will do what you love, but may do it among those with whom you prefer not to work or in a place not of your choosing. If there is blood on your garment, there will also be the oil of anointing or God's presence as well.

Are there blood and oil on your priestly garments? Are you doing what you love but doing it as He directs? Do you accept that you have a priestly responsibility to utilize your gifts and fulfill your purpose not as a hobby but as a life's work?

Purpose Study Bible 89: Art and Crafts

In the last study, we saw how the Lord directed the artistic designs to be included in the wilderness worship tabernacle. Here is a  list of all the artistic expressions God expected to be involved when we read Exodus 25-28:

1. art and sculpture
2. metalwork
3. furniture making
4. woodwork and carpentry
5. interior design (lighting, decorations, layout)
6. textiles and fabric
7. fashion design
8. seamstress and tailor work
9. baking
10. perfumers
11. handcrafts
12. jewelers

If you are involved in any of the above artistic expressions, then you are involved in something that God established and endorses. He wants you to honor them by using them, recognizing them as gifts from God. While those in the wilderness journey used their artistic talents to construct the tabernacle, we have no reason to believe that is the only way they used them. They undoubtedly exercised them to beautify or equip the daily lives of those in the exodus journey.

What expressions are you interested in from the list above? Are these only hobbies or do you find ways to incorporate them into your work and life? Do you pray for God's wisdom as you express them? What more can you do to make the gifts you have in these areas all they can be?

Purpose Study Bible 88: Art Lessons

After the people gave an offering as directed, the Lord said to Moses,

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you" (Exodus 25:8-9).

The tabernacle consisted of the ark of the covenant, a table, a lampstand, an altar, oil, priestly garments, and a compound that consisted of a courtyard and the Holy of Holies where the ark would reside. All this was contained within a bordered area that was to be laid out to the specifications God gave. Notice that God assigned artistic pieces to be made that would communicate spiritual truths, which indicates we can still use our creative gifts to illustrate the things of God. This does not mean that God will direct all artistic efforts with the specificity He demonstrated here, for the tabernacle was a shadow or foretaste of Christ's ministry:  "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation" (Hebrews 9:11).

When Jesus came, He also used His creative gifts to impart God's truth, this time using word pictures in the form of parables as He taught. Like the works of art in Exodus 25 and 26, His "words of art" gave people a mental picture that they could reflect on and thus grasp the lesson. We can then assume that God is eager for you to use your creativity in ways that will speak to His eternal truths. Are you using your creative gifts to communicate what God is teaching you? Are you willing to share them with others and even take the time to explain them or teach others how to use their gifts in the same way? Are you open to God's direction in your creativity but not relying totally on Him for every initiative?

Purpose Study Bible 87: Heart Prompts

In the last study, we read how God instructed the people to give an offering for the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. This is how they would know they were to give for the work to be done:

“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give" (Exodus 25:2).

It was not that the people had to give, but were to give as their heart "prompted" or "moved" them to do. This raises the role of  free will as we serve the Lord. In this instance, the Lord certainly directed what the offering should be composed of, but He did not mandate who had to give. That was up to each individual.

We are regularly reminded of how wicked our heart is as described in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Yet the Lord did not seem concerned that the heart of the people in the Wilderness was so wicked that it could not move them to give the necessary offering. That indicates we can trust our "heart prompts" more often than we do, especially because of the promise God made later in Jeremiah: "I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7).

This has important implications for your purpose, creativity, and goals for it seems you have a role to play in what you will do and especially how you will do it: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7). This giving can extend beyond money to creative gifts and expressions that are unique to who God made you to be. While God does and will direct some of our creative endeavors, He does not direct all of them, and that is where your individuality comes into play.

Are you afraid to follow your heart? Do you see now that God wants to train you and instill a new heart that will flow with His will and purpose for you? What can you do now to express your ability and freedom to choose what you will give as an offering to the Lord from your creativity and individual gifts? Don't put all the responsibility for your creative generosity on God, but learn to obey those heart prompts that come from the new heart He has promised to give you.

Purpose Study Bible 86: Lapis Lazuli

After God gave Moses some practical instruction concerning justice for wrongs committed in the community, He then summoned the leaders for a pow-wow:

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. (Exodus 24:9-11)

Shortly after that meeting, God gave instructions for the offering of materials to be used in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings:

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece" (Exodus 25:1-7).

Let's not examine the meaning of the colors or the other materials referred to in these passages. The point I want to make is that God loves color, and directed His people to surround Him (and themselves) with brightly multi-colored materials when dressing the priests or building the place where His presence would dwell. As a prelude to the offering, the leaders saw God on the mountain where He was standing on something "like" pavement made of lapis lazuli (pictured here). How much lapis would it take to construct pavement under God's feet? Probably a lot, so God didn't just want color, He also wanted big things that represented His love for His creation and its magnificent hues.

What is your favorite color? Do you involve it in your worship of God? Do you appreciate and celebrate the colors of nature or of man-made things that involve bright and unusual colors and their combinations? If you are an artist, do you pay attention to color and even ask God to help you put together your color schemes? It appears that God celebrates color, so therefore give Him something to celebrate. Oh yes, and He would also would also enjoy your "colorful" personality if you can overcome the fear of expressing who God made you to be without worrying about what others think.