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 …
- from Exodus 31:2-4

Did you know that the very first person that the Bible ever says was filled with the Spirit of God as Bezalel, an artist? God had major creative work for Bezalel (and his friends) to do and knew that they would need help. So God poured his own creative Spirit into Bezalel and Bezalel went to work.

The Christmas season challenges us to step up our creative game. We’re given an opportunity around the holidays to find new ways to bless and care for and delight the people whom God has placed around us. And God wants us to go for it.

God cares whether or not the world is beautiful. God is an artist. He could have created an efficient, monotone, desaturated world but instead filled it with color and light and music. Dogs are great but he also created cats and rabbits and gerbils and horses and critters. God is creative. God is an artist.

Now, you may or may not think of yourself as an artist. That’s okay. But whether you’re an artist or not, God calls you to create in your own particular way.

It’s a little bit like what happens during our Sunday worship services. Some of us are musicians. Some sing beautifully. Some sing loudly (these aren’t always the same people who sing beautifully). But we all engage in worship.

So it is with creative work. The Spirit of God is a creative Spirit. And all those who are filled with the Spirit receive his creative power. And God fills every follower of Jesus with his Spirit.

How is God calling you to be creative during this holiday season?