Tuesday, April 24, 2018

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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. For example, here is one, here is another.

16 thoughts on “Tuesday, April 24, 2018”

  1. Thank You, Lord, God Almighty, for You have chosen us, as your servants on earth, to share Your Word and spread Your seed among the nations. What an honour and joy it is to serve You! We have such a magnificent purpose on earth and our glory will be in heaven with You. May your day be blessed, fellow saints in the Lord.

    Praise the Lord. He always leads us to the right scripture:
    Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
    Psalm 33:12 ESV

    The Anchor Holds with lyrics Ray Boltz
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSAc5Z2lprk

    Reply ↓

  2. Thanks for expressing that wonderfully,Beverlee.I just checked all our books for ‘the Men’s Club’ (nondenominational choir) and The Anchor Holds is not in any of them (including the P & W).I hope to print it off and add it to our misc. binder when I get new ink.
    This little town has some churches barely hanging on and some closed with a few still doing ‘ok’ and one doing very well.We must ‘rebuild’ our churches somehow.Today’s scripture speaks of rebuilding and I pray we will receive a new command to ‘rebuild’ with an influx of new believers.To do this we must ‘allow’ (by wanting) His Spirit to work through us and within us.God bless

    Reply ↓

    • Please help us, Lord God, not to give up no matter how tired or tempted or discouraged we get. Please send Your Holy Spirit and have Your way in us, among us, and through us.
      Please comfort and heal the hurting, feed and clothe the needy, and bring Your gospel in power to all people. (I realize this is the work You have given Your people, so please send more workers, and inspire all of us to do the work You have made us for).
      Help us to be faithful to You, give us discernment and wisdom, open the doors for Your Word to go out freely, powerfully, and clearly.
      Be glorified in and through Your church, and may we always be grateful and thankful for all You have done, are doing, and will do for us.
      We ask all these things (and more) in Jesus’s name, amen

      Reply ↓

  3. Love this passage of scripture and appreciate David’s admonition to always put God first. Amen Beverlee, Bill and Rob. Love that song too. What a wonderful birthday I had today. It was a surprise with most of my family meeting and friends as well.

    Reply ↓

  4. What a detailed and colorful photo, thank you Reynodl and thank you Ron for posting it!
    How often like Zerubabel we are discouraged by the negative comments of people, instead of keeping our eyes and mind on the Lord!

    Also like the people in today’s scripture…we think more of our own needs than that of others. Together with Davids I pray that I would be in tune with the needs of others. I pray “tune my heart to hear you, Lord, and obey!!
    My scripture reading was Psalm 103: 1-4 ” Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy Name…..”
    We have a spring day at last…hopefully it continues…I pray all is well with all you saints!

    Reply ↓

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