READING: Haggai 1-2
God called His people to rebuild the Temple when they returned to Jerusalem after exile, but they allowed their opposition to discourage them from completing the task for almost twenty years. When the prophet Haggai appeared on the scene, he urged them to take some steps that can easily be applied to us today:
- “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little” (Haggai 1:5). The people needed to see that their harvests were poor because God was choosing not to bless them. They were eating, drinking, providing for themselves and working, but they were not honoring God. I’m sure that I sometimes have done important things like eating and drinking while still neglecting the things of God. I need to consider whether I’m doing that today.
- “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored” (Haggai 1:7-8). They were to consider the reality that they were ignoring the house of God while living in their own finer homes. I am challenged here to evaluate how much I really sacrifice for the work of God while I live in a home much nicer than much of the world has. I need to consider my ways today.
- “But now be strong . . . Be strong . . . Be strong . . . and work. For I am with you” (Haggai 2:4). They were to do the work of God regardless of the power of their enemies. The God who was with them was stronger than all. I hope I don’t allow fear to keep me from following God, but I’m reminded here that I could go there easily. I must choose to be strong today.
- “Now give careful thought to this from this day on — consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple” (Haggai 2:15). The prophet challenged them to remember the way things were before they started re-building the Temple — at a time when their harvests were weak, blessings were few, and God was hindering their crop production to draw them back to Him. Still, though, they did not return to God. I wonder how many times I’ve not returned to God when He has purposefully sought to draw me back. I need to consider whether I’ve sometimes taken for granted God’s grace that has always held on to me.
It’s right today to consider my life in the light of what God wants me to be and do. I pray that God will empower me through His Spirit (Haggai 2:5) to do His work, regardless of the opposition.
ACTION STEPS:
- Consider your life today. What things stand in the way of your being fully faithful to God? Confess them to Him.
- Consider a way to give sacrificially to God’s work today, focusing more on Him than on the blessings He has given you.
PRAYER: “God, help me to look deeply and honestly at my life. Show me my failures, and shower me with Your grace.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Zechariah 1-7