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?

September 27: Luke 9:1-6

Key Verse: Luke 9:3
He told them: ‘Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.

Devotion:
One of the things I have learned is to wait on God for instructions and when He does give me instructions, I should obey them and know He has already set the things in motion which will allow me to do whatever He is asking. Sometimes I get impatient and sometimes I am too slow to answer, but we get there eventually!

When Jesus sent the disciples out to continue the ministry He had started He told them to simply rely on God’s provision. When we, as Christians, say we should rely on God’s provision, it can come in many form and not just miraculous supplies of food or water. God knows where we should be going and He prepares the hearts of people ahead of us so they will be willing to help us make a difference.

God knows we cannot do much by ourselves, but He knows a team of people starting with the local community will make a big difference. If we go somewhere and show them we are self-sufficient and start trying to change things, people may get upset with us because we are changing the rules; but when we go in with nothing, they are willing to accept us and help us.

This is the love Jesus was trying to impress on the disciples when He told them the most important thing, besides loving God, is to love the people around us. God knows love makes a big difference and He wants to see His people joining hands and helping each other to make Christians communities: this is His church!

Points to Ponder:
Are you trying to tell people what to do?

Have you tried seeing what they would like to do?

September 26: Ezra 6:7-12

Key Verse: Ezra 6:7
Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.

Devotion:
When God has set something in motion there are always going to be a set of people who object to what is going on, not because it is wrong but because they want something out of what is happening – normally through personal pride and greed! Sometimes God will take it to the highest levels to ensure things get done.

During this time in our history, the king had heard from the prophets how they should allow the Jew to rebuild the temple so they could worship God. As soon as some of the other leaders heard what was going on and how certain riches should be returned to the Jews so they could be put back in the temple, the greedy leaders objected and tried to stop the work.

They bribed official and tried to make it very difficult for the Jews to keep going… but God had already stepped in… A governor wrote a letter to King Darius to try and stop things. Darius went through the royal archives and found the original decree of King Cyrus which stated the royal treasury should be paying for the temple to be rebuilt! God made sure that document had survived!

When we start working for God and listen to what He wants from us, we can be sure things will fall into place as we do the work. But we can also be sure someone is going to object because of their pride and greed! We need to remain faithful to God and continue His good works!

Points to Ponder:
Do you get upset with people objecting to you doing God’s Work?

Will you stay faithful to what God is asking of you?