“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Consider your ways!’” Haggai 1:7
Three years ago I heard a message on the book of Haggai. Time has not removed nor diminished the impression the book left upon me. I thought its message more than appropriate for us today considering the impending footsteps of yet another new year…
Following exile in Babylon, thousands of Jews returned to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. After completing foundation, the campaign halted as a weary Israel lost focus. As years passed, they simply became busy about THEIR business. Working much, reaping little, and laboring for plans all their own, they neglected the house of God. Into this scene, God’s prophet Haggai brought
direction to a much discouraged people.
While there is much in this book to hold our attention, our time today will be consumed with three words – CONSIDER YOUR WAYS. God, through Haggai, commanded Israel to do just that. They had lost sight of big-picture thinking and God knew it. In short, in His asking such, He righted their focus, captured their attention, and routed their plans right back around to His.
Thousands of years removed, we have before us the Word of God, active, living, and sharper than any sword. As we enter into this year together, God’s command to Israel long ago remains applicable to us today. With our heart’s beat just as human, we, too, fall prey to the rut of depending on Him only when we want to, need to, or just plain feel like it. We, too, think of ourselves and our wishes and wants. We, too, forget to seek what purpose God might have for us as we walk day in and day out the path He has already determined!
With the dawn of 2012 lighting the horizon, I wonder would you, with me, take inventory of your heart and life. It’s a humbling journey not easy to travel, but one needed much within hearts beating all too human. If we truly ask and accept what we find, He will, just as He did for Israel, right our focus and route our plans right back round to His. So with all humility and with His
help, consider today your ways. Give this year the thought it deserves…
There may be something God is asking you to do or simply an area He is asking you to lay aside in order to put Him first. He may not be where He should on your priority list. You may be giving Him just some time and not your best time. You may be loving Him with compromise rather than doing so wholeheartedly. You may be struggling to build something for your own glory. Only you know the questions you must ask, still consider your ways! Beloved of Him, is your 2012 His???
If you are like me, the answers have knocked you to your knees and flat to your face, but, ironically, that is just the place He desires us to be. He wants to fill us with His glory, and He is waiting to pour out, needing us first willing and obedient to all HE deems important. Precious one, He knows that when we consider our ways, really consider them, we’ll find HIS! Lesson from Haggai we must not too quickly forget…
For Glory all His Own.
Following exile in Babylon, thousands of Jews returned to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. After completing foundation, the campaign halted as a weary Israel lost focus. As years passed, they simply became busy about THEIR business. Working much, reaping little, and laboring for plans all their own, they neglected the house of God. Into this scene, God’s prophet Haggai brought
direction to a much discouraged people.
While there is much in this book to hold our attention, our time today will be consumed with three words – CONSIDER YOUR WAYS. God, through Haggai, commanded Israel to do just that. They had lost sight of big-picture thinking and God knew it. In short, in His asking such, He righted their focus, captured their attention, and routed their plans right back around to His.
Thousands of years removed, we have before us the Word of God, active, living, and sharper than any sword. As we enter into this year together, God’s command to Israel long ago remains applicable to us today. With our heart’s beat just as human, we, too, fall prey to the rut of depending on Him only when we want to, need to, or just plain feel like it. We, too, think of ourselves and our wishes and wants. We, too, forget to seek what purpose God might have for us as we walk day in and day out the path He has already determined!
With the dawn of 2012 lighting the horizon, I wonder would you, with me, take inventory of your heart and life. It’s a humbling journey not easy to travel, but one needed much within hearts beating all too human. If we truly ask and accept what we find, He will, just as He did for Israel, right our focus and route our plans right back round to His. So with all humility and with His
help, consider today your ways. Give this year the thought it deserves…
There may be something God is asking you to do or simply an area He is asking you to lay aside in order to put Him first. He may not be where He should on your priority list. You may be giving Him just some time and not your best time. You may be loving Him with compromise rather than doing so wholeheartedly. You may be struggling to build something for your own glory. Only you know the questions you must ask, still consider your ways! Beloved of Him, is your 2012 His???
If you are like me, the answers have knocked you to your knees and flat to your face, but, ironically, that is just the place He desires us to be. He wants to fill us with His glory, and He is waiting to pour out, needing us first willing and obedient to all HE deems important. Precious one, He knows that when we consider our ways, really consider them, we’ll find HIS! Lesson from Haggai we must not too quickly forget…
For Glory all His Own.
Well said, as usual. The attraction of distraction. So often we fill our days with busyness convinced that doing no evil we have avoided sin; however, we forget that sin is not limited to what we do but what we don’t do that we should. James 4:17 “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (NIV)
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