Friday, September 23, 2022

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

Haggai 1:7-11]

I believe this passage of scripture encapsulates what our priorities should look like when it comes to what we rebuild. God chastises His people because they placed more focus and attention on their homes than the house of God. God declares that His house was in ruins while every one of His people ran to their own house. Because of their misplaced priorities, they experienced dire consequences: no dew; no fruit; drought; and lack of grain, new wine, and oil. Their efforts would be futile because of what they made a priority.

What is your priority? Is God’s kingdom at the forefront of your mind? When was the last time you asked God what you can do for Him? How many prayers do you whisper about your situation versus what God wants of you?

It is time for us to focus on God’s agenda and rebuild that. All of this outward stuff is wasting away while our inward man is being renewed day by day. Remember this little stuff we see here cannot compare to the eternal glory that is to come (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).

PRAYER: Lord, help me get it right. I want all of you. Let me focus on your kingdom and righteousness, and the rest will fall into place. In Jesus’ name, Amen.