Haggai 2: 4-9 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
The prophet Haggai wanted the former exiles to return to building the temple of the Lord. They had concentrated on building their own homes but neglected the work of the Lord. Their priorities were not straight. Haggai encouraged them with a word from the Lord God Almighty to be strong against opposition and apathy, which caused them to cease doing the work of the Lord.
The Lord reminds them that He is still with them as a people, despite the exile, and that the covenant made with the Jews way back when He brought their forefathers out of Egyptian slavery was still in effect and would be honored by Him. He asked them to keep their part of the covenant by trusting in Him, serving Him, and worshiping Him alone. Then, peace would come, and there would be blessings.
It is so easy to allow our priorities to go wrong. I have to remind myself to put the things of God first in my life. I can find myself doing my college homework and justify putting the Lord’s work second by saying I need to finish this by a certain time. It feels like the people who told Jesus all the excuses for not following Him, such as a new marriage or oxen. It’s like saying to God, “I will do your work after I finish my degree.” I am reminded by today’s Scripture readings to put the work of God first, just as Jesus did when he reminded Mary and Joseph that he had to be about His father’s business.
Let’s remember to be strong and work on the things of the Lord, not allowing anything or anybody to become so important that we make the things of God second or third, or like the former exiles, not at all. We will find peace knowing He is with us and keeping His promises. All He asks of us is to keep our part of the covenant: Working for the Kingdom of God while it is still day.
Amen.
Copyright
©
All posts on my blog, Help From Heaven, are my intellectual property and are protected
by copyright.
Help from Heaven 
Leave a comment