Beauty in the church

All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the Lord has recommended.   — Exodus 35:10

When my husband, Jay, and I decided to build a new house, we didn’t recruit friends and family who enjoy working with power tools; instead we hired a skilled builder to create something both functional and beautiful.

Beauty in the church building, however, is not always a high priority. Some associate it with impracticality, so anything ornate or decorative is considered wasteful. But that wasn’t God’s attitude when He established a place of worship for the ancient Israelites. He didn’t recruit just anybody to set up an ordinary tent. He appointed skilled craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab (Ex. 36:1), to decorate the tabernacle with finely-woven tapestries and intricately designed ornaments (37:17-20).

I think the beauty was important then because it reminded the people of the worth of God in their worship. During the dry and dusty days of desert wanderings, they needed a reminder of God’s majesty.

The beauty created by God’s people in worship settings today can serve the same purpose. We offer God our best talents because He is worthy. Beauty also gives us a glimpse of heaven and whets our appetites for what God is preparing for our future.

                        — Julie Ackerman Link

Lord,  whether or not we're able

to worship in a beautiful place,

we ask You to create in us

beautiful hearts that honor You

in our times of  worship

You are deserving of all our praise. Amen

READ: Exodus 36:1-7

Beauty reflects God.

The Bible in one year:

• Judges 16-18