December 9 2005 Haggai 1:7,14
December 9, 2005 Haggai 1:1-15
Click here for the podcast of today’s devotional!
Haggai 1:7, 14 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Consider your ways.’ … and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God . . .”
The Israelites had returned to Jerusalem from exile. Enthusiastically they placed a foundation for rebuilding the temple, and then they ran out of steam. Almost 20 years later, the status of the building project hadn’t changed much. The Israeli community was still there but was content to leave well enough alone. As we read this chapter, we find that they had become so focused on their own endeavors – working, caring for families, trying to save (see v.6) that they put the whole temple project on the back burner. God’s expectation was a job completed, well-done and well maintained which would stand as a tribute to Him and His role in this Israeli community.
Don’t we fall into the same mind-set regarding our place of worship sometimes? As we get swept up in the demands of our personal lives we lose track of the responsibility we have to the church community we’ve been blessed to be a part of. Often physical and financial maintenance fall to a few, and the rest of us approach the challenge with little more than good intentions.
This season as we are reminded of God’s overwhelming love for us and the sacrificial gifts of both the Father and the Son, it may be a good time to “consider our ways” as responsible and thankful members of our church community, seeking to bring honor and glory to God.
Merciful Lord, we thank you for every gift you entrust to our care. Help us, we pray to remember the gift of a house of worship. Grant us the energy to eagerly worship and work in your name. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Contributed by Judy King
Click here for the podcast of today’s devotional!
Haggai 1:7, 14 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Consider your ways.’ … and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God . . .”
The Israelites had returned to Jerusalem from exile. Enthusiastically they placed a foundation for rebuilding the temple, and then they ran out of steam. Almost 20 years later, the status of the building project hadn’t changed much. The Israeli community was still there but was content to leave well enough alone. As we read this chapter, we find that they had become so focused on their own endeavors – working, caring for families, trying to save (see v.6) that they put the whole temple project on the back burner. God’s expectation was a job completed, well-done and well maintained which would stand as a tribute to Him and His role in this Israeli community.
Don’t we fall into the same mind-set regarding our place of worship sometimes? As we get swept up in the demands of our personal lives we lose track of the responsibility we have to the church community we’ve been blessed to be a part of. Often physical and financial maintenance fall to a few, and the rest of us approach the challenge with little more than good intentions.
This season as we are reminded of God’s overwhelming love for us and the sacrificial gifts of both the Father and the Son, it may be a good time to “consider our ways” as responsible and thankful members of our church community, seeking to bring honor and glory to God.
Merciful Lord, we thank you for every gift you entrust to our care. Help us, we pray to remember the gift of a house of worship. Grant us the energy to eagerly worship and work in your name. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Contributed by Judy King
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