Friday, April 24, 2020

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CONSIDER

Today’s Reading: Haggai 1-2

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Seen on the right of the photo is the Tomb of Zechariah. It is located on the foothills of the Mount of Olives facing the Temple Mount. It is cut into the rock and made entirely from that rock. Tomorrow, God willing, we begin our readings in the book of Zechariah. Haggai and Zechariah ministered in Jerusalem as a dynamic duo following the first return of the Jews from Babylon. These two prophets had the assignment of urging the people to complete the rebuilding of the Temple.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Haggai 1:5, 7, 2:7a

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!…” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!…and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,” says the Lord of hosts.

 

Haggai was probably one of the older generation who remembered what the Temple of Solomon had looked like. They started construction of a new Temple with great enthusiasm (read Ezra 3:10-13). But the people who had not been to Babylon harassed and discouraged the project. Construction was halted as a result, but Haggai and Zechariah did their job and the Temple was finally completed (read Ezra 4:24-5:2).

The word “consider” is repeated by Haggai five times. Daily through this blog we “consider,” “think about,” “contemplate,” “examine,” “review,” “ponder,” “evaluate,” “assess,” etc. Haggai tells his people and us, “Consider your ways!” As a result of Haggai’s preaching, “The Lord stirred up the spirit” of both the governor and the high priest and resumed building the Temple (Haggai 1:14). Consider Haggai 2:5-7. King Herod, 500 years later, enlarged their Temple, and when Jesus entered that Temple, the “desire of all nations” was present (Haggai 2:7). The ultimate fulfillment of Haggai’s prophecy will be at Jesus’ return to Jerusalem, as predicted by the angels and recorded in Acts 1:6-11.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, through this blog and through the preaching of my pastor, I pray that my spirit will be stirred up so that I may be motivated again to work tirelessly for You, working with Jesus Who said, “I will build My Church,” and in Whose Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve just found in my home library book #8 in the series, Day unto Day, by Jim and Cathy Cantelon (New Testament commentaries), and Nizar and Ellen Shaheen (Old Testament commentaries). There are eleven paragraphs on Haggai, chapters 1 & 2. Here’s just one paragraph from my son-in-law, Nizar, and my daughter, Ellen:

“Even before they had received the official notification (the decree of Persian Emperor Cyrus which had earlier permitted the construction of a new Temple), the Lord had stirred up the people because of the exhortation of Haggai (along with that of Zechariah), and they resumed the building of the Temple; it had been lying unfinished for about 16 years. In his exhortation, Haggai told them the reason they had not experienced the blessing of God upon their fields and finances. They had put their own interests ahead of the interests of God. God desired them to build His Temple and thereby bring glory to Him (1:8). By leaving His dwelling in ruins, they were not honouring God. When believers today do not work to build up the Kingdom of God by pointing the lost to Jesus, and when they do not support or participate in the work of the Lord (the local church and other outreach ministries), then this also does not bring glory to God. Our faithful service to Him and fulfilling His desires should be our primary concern. Many people today are guilty of the same thing for which Haggai rebuked the people of Jerusalem in his day. There was nothing wrong with working hard in their fields or building fine homes; what was wrong was that they did these things while neglecting their duty to the Lord. Their priorities were out of order, and thus the Lord’s displeasure was upon them. For this reason they had not been blessed in their work or income.”

Yours for faithfully keeping the Lord our top priority and experiencing His blessings,

David

P.S. The Day Unto Day series consisted of eight books published over two years. Although it has been out of print for over 20 years, when you do a Google search, it’s amazing how many copies are still floating around for sale.

26 thoughts on “Friday, April 24, 2020”

  1. Great photo, scripture and history today. Praying for the needs of all saints. May you be blessed and provided for today, spiritually, physically and mentally. May His loving Hand be upon you and His Word come to you throughout the day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

    For the sake of my brethren and companions,
    I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
    Because of the house of the Lord our God
    I will seek your good. Psalm 122:8-9 ESV

    Jesus Is Living In Me-James Easter and Jeff Easter (with Sheri Easter)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggpnulR8T7Y

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    • Beautiful family camp atmosphere. Thank you Beverlee. My church (zoom meeting) was praying last week for Christian camps. This is the planning time for them & applications would be sent out but with so much uncertainty this time, it will be difficult to plan & hire staff. Kids camps are so needed in this generation. Praying for them & God’s direction. Blessings all.

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  2. Good a.m. all dear saints of our heavenly Father. A friend sent me this lovely video. Please stay safe and respect our government, even if we don’t agree with them:-):

    https://youtu.be/XdoPjlGFWds

    May God bless each believer as we travel thru this life in preparation for our glorified eternal life and bring others to have faith in our Father.
    Magnificent picture Reynold!

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    • The bell tower reminds me of my childhood when I would climb the stairs to the bell tower & watch the musician play the very loud bells. I don’t remember if he wore ear protection or not but I know I did not. It was an amazing but loud memory!

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    • so uplifting; we had church bells in our church in the country; their sound could be heard for miles around

      when storm clouds appeared, the priest would ring those bells; in faith, that the sound of them would divert them

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  3. Amen Beverlee. Have been blessed already today by David’s blog, photo and scripture. “Consider your ways” and “Be strong(chazak)…and work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Hosts.”(Haggai 1:7 & 2:4). Today is my birthday and I praise the Lord for another year. Prayers for all suffering today with Corvid-19 and the families in Nova Scotia who have lost loved ones. Lord bring us a world revival and spiritual awakening. In Jesus Name. Amen!

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    • Happy birthday, Ger, and may God keep you and all of His cherished children strong and enthusiastic to do their best in all their service for the King. In Jesus’s name, amen

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    • Aaaahhhh!! Happy Birthday dear Ger!! Wondering what the number of this magical year might be!? So happy it is your special day!! Sending you a cake through wishes but imagining you can see it and are enjoying blowing out the candles and eating it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and nice hot cup of tea. I think it would be lemon cake with lemon chiffon icing and whipped cream edges!! 🍰 A big sparkle candle would be in the middle so you actually couldn’t even blow it out! Hee hee!! 🥰 Have a wonderful rest of the day and evening. May you sleep tonight with angels 👼 singing sweetly in your ears 😇 . Happy Birthday Ger!! ❤xoxo❤ 🎈 🎉 🎂🎈You are such a blessing to this blog! God bless you!

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    • God bless you Ger and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
      I pray God will continue to bless you in every way; I pray God grants you good health; I pray God hears all your prayers in Jesus Name amen amen amen

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  7. Thank you Gwen, Nan, Blessed, Gloria, Irene, Al, Deanna for your birthday greetings and for your very sweet and creative birthday greetings Beverlee that made me smile. I ate something close to your good lemon cake, a pie of lemon meringue pie, ha! God bless you sister.

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