Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled Lost to the Past was written by Tim Gustafson.

Upset with the corruption and extravagance plaguing his kingdom, Korea's King Yongjo decided to change things. In a classic

case of throwing out the baby with the bathwater, he banned the traditional art of gold

thread embroidery as excessively opulent. Soon, knowledge of that intricate process vanished

into the past. In 2011, Professor Simeonok wanted to reclaim that long-lost tradition. Sermising that

gold leaf had been glued onto mulberry paper and then hand-cut into slender strands, she was able to

recreate the process, reviving an ancient art form. In the book of Exodus, we learn of the

extravagant measures employed to construct the tabernacle,

including gold thread to make Aaron's priestly garments.

Skilled craftsmen hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue,

purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.

What happened to all that exquisite craftsmanship?

Did the garments simply wear out?

Were they eventually carried off his plunder? Was it all in vain? Not at all. Every aspect

of the effort was done because God had given specific instructions to do it. God has given each

of us something to do as well. It may be a simple act of kindness,

something to give back to him as we serve each other. We need not concern ourselves with what

will happen to our efforts in the end. Any task done for our father becomes a thread extending

into eternity.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Exodus chapter 39, verses 1 through 7.

From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments

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