I've been reading the minor prophets and I have particularly enjoyed reading Habakkuk and Haggai. To be honest I haven't really given these two books alot of time in the past. (In fact it might be my first visit to Haggai.) I finished it a few days ago but my mind keeps coming back to chapter 2 "The Promised Glory of the new house" and so I thought I might share my thoughts with you. This prophecy has come 66 years after the temple was destroyed (Ezra 2-3) and so I had a flick back just to broaden my understanding. I realised that when Solomon first built the temple, he spared no expense in buying the best materials and hiring the best talent he could to carry out the work. Ezra 3 describes the rebuilding process: "And the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests ...etc..wept aloud..." These men were the privileged few to still be alive to see the temple's new foundations and all they thought of was the `good old days`. When we look at what has gone, what other people have done, what other people are doing we can feel like what we bring to the table is not enough, not acceptable. The enemy contrasts our work with that of others and so we can become discouraged and feel like we might as well give up i.e. we can't build like Solomon so why build at all?!
Well, like any good pastor, God spoke 3 encouragements to the prophet Haggai.
1. "Be strong.....work.....do not fear"
2. "I am with you.."
3. "My Spirit remains among you."
I suppose this relates to my previous post in that we just have to get on with our own calling. It's great that we have fantastic influences but let's not compare ourselves so that we become discouraged. Let's not look back on the 'good old days' and then lose heart in the present. So, in whatever capacity you are involved in worship or any aspect of God's kingdom, be encouraged.
"I know that you think you're not good for anything, the world makes you feel so small. But get on your wooden horse, this is a ride not a fight." The Weepies
Post your thoughts!!
5 comments:
fantastic.
why do we struggle so much with God/love being there for us and with us to achieve/use the gifts that we have as people? i'm not sure of the answer but i guess its up to us to find what we are good at or most useful doing and just do it (not like nike though).
I think when we stuggle to conceptualise God being interested in our mundane and everyday, that can be problematic in us formulating a way forward. When we realise that He gifts us with the knowledge, wisdom, skills, ability, personality etc. to do what we are essentially good at, then it facilitates action and passion a whole lot more
Hey, Just followed up your text and checked this out. I've been loving Haggai recently as well.
The thing that struck me hard from the Old Boys writing was in chapter one where we build our own houses and leave God's in ruins. It's funny that the thing that struck me is that I build a inistry but ignore the Fasther's house.
Anyhow, I've got work. I'm not so good at blogging, but mine is on myspace.com/davemagillinfo
if you're bored....
Wow...great encouragement there sister...thanks for that! Seems like just what i needed to hear! Sometimes looking back on "the good old days" is bittersweet and all i want is to be back there...but God has placed me where i am now for a reason...a good one i'm sure! So i need to look at building onto what has been laid as a foundation...and not looking back! Think i'll go read that passage too!! Thanks xxx
I Like it Hambette! Love your spirit - keep it up!
with ya sis
JP
Ecclesiastes 7:10 says, "Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions."
I read that recently while thinking about how things had been better at my old job. After reading this verse two things occurred to me: 1. that when looking on the past it is often easy to forget the imperfections and, in the process, build a memory up into what it never was, and 2. That to live life always looking back creates quite a krink in the neck!
Let's move forward, believing what Christ himself said in Luke 9:62, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
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