Consider Your Ways
Haggai 1:2-9 (ESV)
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.
Reflection
The prophet Haggai didn’t hold back. He called the Israelites out on their excuses that prevented them from rebuilding the temple of the Lord. It didn’t seem like a good time for them to rebuild the temple, yet they were willing to fix up their own homes. They sought after more, but it never satisfied them. It’s easy to look at the Israelites throughout scripture and to see their shortcomings. But it always ends up hitting me that I can be so much like them.
In this season, as we take steps of faith as a church, I find myself thinking of all the ways this isn’t the best time for us, as a family, to be stretched thin. We are in a transition time, with one child in college and the possibility of two more teenagers entering college in the next few years. This upcoming year, all four of our kids will be teenagers. If you didn’t know, teenagers eat a lot of food, like to be involved in numerous activities, and need to be transported many places. We are also at the age where we feel that we should be thinking toward what the future looks like for us. I can think of all the logical and illogical reasons why we shouldn’t take the steps that God is prompting us to take. While the reasons I listed aren’t bad things at all, if I follow my desire to allow those things to satisfy me, I will be in a consistent state of wanting more. If I follow after what God is calling me to do, even if I don’t have the “security” that can come from those resources, I know that God will provide and satisfy my needs. While steps of obedience are hard, the reward of following after God is better than anything life has to offer!
Action Steps
1. What is the step of faith that God is calling you to take as we walk through this series as a church?
2. Instead of writing excuses of why you shouldn’t take this faith step, write down three things that could happen because you are being obedient to what God is calling you to do!
Prayer
God, these faith steps that You have put on my heart can be scary. Trusting You, rather than my own desires, is difficult. In this season, please help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and the calling You have placed on my heart. Please encourage my heart and allow me to see Your faithfulness. Thank You in advance for the ways You are going to move! Amen.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.
Reflection
The prophet Haggai didn’t hold back. He called the Israelites out on their excuses that prevented them from rebuilding the temple of the Lord. It didn’t seem like a good time for them to rebuild the temple, yet they were willing to fix up their own homes. They sought after more, but it never satisfied them. It’s easy to look at the Israelites throughout scripture and to see their shortcomings. But it always ends up hitting me that I can be so much like them.
In this season, as we take steps of faith as a church, I find myself thinking of all the ways this isn’t the best time for us, as a family, to be stretched thin. We are in a transition time, with one child in college and the possibility of two more teenagers entering college in the next few years. This upcoming year, all four of our kids will be teenagers. If you didn’t know, teenagers eat a lot of food, like to be involved in numerous activities, and need to be transported many places. We are also at the age where we feel that we should be thinking toward what the future looks like for us. I can think of all the logical and illogical reasons why we shouldn’t take the steps that God is prompting us to take. While the reasons I listed aren’t bad things at all, if I follow my desire to allow those things to satisfy me, I will be in a consistent state of wanting more. If I follow after what God is calling me to do, even if I don’t have the “security” that can come from those resources, I know that God will provide and satisfy my needs. While steps of obedience are hard, the reward of following after God is better than anything life has to offer!
Action Steps
1. What is the step of faith that God is calling you to take as we walk through this series as a church?
2. Instead of writing excuses of why you shouldn’t take this faith step, write down three things that could happen because you are being obedient to what God is calling you to do!
Prayer
God, these faith steps that You have put on my heart can be scary. Trusting You, rather than my own desires, is difficult. In this season, please help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and the calling You have placed on my heart. Please encourage my heart and allow me to see Your faithfulness. Thank You in advance for the ways You are going to move! Amen.
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