May 6 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

These readings focus on the Holy Spirit. In the Old Covenant (or Testament), the Spirit "anoints" one person here and one there to perform a special work for God. In the New Covenant, the Spirit is "poured out" like rain on the whole church of Christ.

Bible Reading:

Exodus 35:30–36:1

Bible Text:

"He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge ... to make artistic designs" (Ex. 35:31).

Devotional:

God's greatest gift to human beings is creativity—the ability to imagine, express, and produce. By our creativity we show we are children of the Creator.

God is the great Artist, the source of all art. Part of our education should be to have our eyes opened and ears tuned to this work of God's Spirit. For the beautiful work of a teacher is not only to transfer information but also to stir students' creativity.

If God is the Creator, the devil is the destroyer. People reveal the influence of both God and the devil. We can be productive or destructive. We can be alive and creative, but we are often dull and vegetative.

The divine Spirit of the artist is not always acknowledged by artists or their admirers. That's why art in all its forms often becomes an idol—a "nice" idol, but an idol just the same. People who live for music, for example, may be nobler than those who live for money. But whether an idol is nice or ugly, God does not tolerate idolatry. People who live for music, pottery, or literature miss their destiny.

Therefore the Bible teaches us not only that art comes from God and that his Spirit indwells all artists, but also that God is to be honored by the art and the artists. Creating art is worshiping God. Enjoying art is delighting in the Creator.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.