READING: Haggai 1-2
TEXTS AND APPLICATION: We probably don’t think enough about where we’ve been, what we should have learned, and how those lessons should help us today. Four times in the short book of Haggai did God call His people to think seriously about where they were:
Haggai 1:5 Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways. . . .”
Haggai 1:7 The Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways.”
Haggai 2:15 “Now, reflect back from this day . . .”
Haggai 2:18 “Consider carefully from this day forward; from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid; consider it carefully.”
They were to think about the fact that they did not always see blessings — so God must have had a reason not to bless them. They were to consider their ways deeply, recognizing that they were living in good houses but choosing not to rebuild God’s house. They were to recall again days when blessing didn’t occur, simply because God was disciplining them. Finally, they were to consider how they were living in the light of God’s full restoration to come.
To paraphrase, God said this multiple times: "Look seriously at your heart. Know the products and repercussions of sin. Recognize your worldliness and your pride. Then, think deeply about the positive results of confession and repentance; think about my blessings to come on holy people.”
I suspect we, too, would be wise to ponder anew our ways. We need not just flippantly confess our wicked ways, but rather drill down into our hearts to see who we really are. When we do that, the promises of tomorrow’s blessings seem all the more gracious.
PRAYER: “Father, let us consider our ways with full integrity. Remind us today of the magnitude of Your grace.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Zechariah 1-7