I find myself guilty of this mentality more often than not. It is so easy to get focused and stay on task (often the wrong task), that I lose sight of the big picture; that is, my time with God… my relationship with God. The most important part of my life is the time I spend with a holy God in the secret place of prayer and devotion to His word. It brings me the greatest solace in a world of chaos. To sit and basked in the Lord’s presence and find security that brings my heart and mind calm.
In Haggai, chapter 1, the message speaks to me about the temple I am to be to God who longs to live in me through His Holy Spirit. That may seem strange to some, but the God of the universe wants such connection with you; He desires to live within your heart. Jesus stated He must leave for the promised Counselor to come (John 15:5-15). What an appropriate description for the Holy Spirit. When we invite Jesus into our lives, He sends the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our lives in every aspect. To help us to navigate through live in a way that reveals to those witnessing, Christ in us and to bring God the Father glory. Think of this passage as it refers to you specifically as the temple of the Lord (your relationship and walk with the Lord). Here are the words of the Lord through the prophet Haggai in Chapter 1:2-11: 2 This is what the lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.’” 3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 Is it time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8Go up into the mountain and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.” We get so caught up in the busyness of living a temporary life, we give no mind to forever. We focus our lives on making a life in the physical, we seldom look at the spiritual. It is easy when you can attain what can be seen, but the unseen is eternal. Procrastination is human nature. “Tomorrow” or “One day I will” are everyday phrases for us. But the Lord Almighty is saying “Today is the day!” Haggai 1 reveals why we are so unfulfilled, that while we have much we are still found longing. We have focused on the wrong things. “Give careful though to your ways,” (Haggai 1:5). Our physical lives may look good from the outside, but our spiritual person is a ruin (“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declare the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house,” Haggai1:9). Look inside. Examine your temple. What condition is it in? Is God pleased with your effort? It is easy to be like the world. To fit in and go along with the flow of this life. It takes intentionality and devotion to walk with the Lord daily. The Lord is looking for a house His Holy Spirit can come into and fix up. Make today the day you begin a whole-hearted devotion to the Lord. Make today the day you find fulfillment for this life and the next in and through the Lord. “Acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches the heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake him, He will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 Amen
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AuthorPaul is a Christ Follower. He has been married to his beautiful wife Rebecca and they have two beautiful children, a dog, two cats and a turtle. They love being together as a family and doing the adventure that is ministry. They love the outdoors and enjoying all of God's creation. Archives
October 2019
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