September 28: Haggai 1:3-8
Key Verse: Haggai 1:4
‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’
Devotion:
One thing which does impress me is the authority by which the prophets were able to live by. God would speak to them through visions and dreams, or even audibly, instructing them in which way the people of Israel should be headed. How many of those people listened is what the problem was. But God knew the right place for the prophets to say things to get the biggest impact on the people as a whole.
God knows who the people are in any community who will lead others, not because they want to be leaders but because they are the people others respect and listen to. There are some who do all the shouting and talking but few people want to listen to them because they feel those people are doing it for themselves. God chooses people who do things selflessly for Him!
Haggai was instructed to tell a few truths to the people because they seemed to have grown very fond o their panelled houses rather than worrying about doing things for God. They were self promoting rather than lifting up the name of God! That is an easy trap to fall into!
Whatever we have in this world is because God has allowed it to be so. If we do not acknowledge God for allowing everything into our lives, then we are missing the point and others will begin to see us as empty vessels. We do have to look after what God gives us and part of that is the buildings He allows us to have for worshipping Him...
Points to Ponder:
How much do you do freely for your local church?
Are you willing to give a little more time and effort?