Friday's Follow-up Verses
Haggai 1:1-11
A Call to Build the House of the Lord
1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest:
2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”
3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
Pondering Point
Wow! Would you believe these words from a prophet like Haggai as a legitimate explanation for snags cropping up in life? That is a pretty harsh but direct answer for their situation. Through Haggai, God draws a direct parallel between the state of their houses and His. But it's the question He asks ("is it a time for you...?") and the warning He levies ("give careful thought to your ways") that draws my attention.
God is attentive to our ways and rationale in living. Are you attentive to your ways and your rationale in living? Are you consulting Him as you make decisions about your wages, your home, your food and drink, and how you are giving back to Him? What do these words from Haggai stir up within you?
Write out your thoughts in your journal, then pray over it with the Lord, closing with the prayer that follows.
Journal Prompt:
My careful thoughts about my ways:
Are you attentive to your ways and your rationale in living?
Are you consulting Him as you make decisions about your wages, your home, your food and drink, and how you are giving back to Him?
What do these words from Haggai stir up within you?
Prayer for the Day
Father God, help me to be aware that the times are evil and that I would be wise to give careful consideration to my ways. Let Your Holy Spirit lead me in these endeavors -- in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Group Moment
Learning about my place in the
mission and ministry of
Hope Lutheran Church
Mission at Hope:
Connecting to one another in the contagious joy of following Jesus.
Breaking down the Mission “of following Jesus”:
The stated mission of Hope Lutheran Church is Disciples Making Disciples (who make disciples). This mission was in response to the directive given to us by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20,
Matthew 28:19-20
19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
As His disciples, we must acknowledge that to fulfill this Great Commission, we need to first be following Jesus as He calls us to do in Matthew 4:19, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
To be a follower of Jesus, we must individually and corporately be willing to count the cost, pick up our crosses, and be prepared to deny ourselves. For Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, to serve and not be served, and to give His life for us. While this may seem daunting, it is important to remember the blessings that come from following Jesus as is seen in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” This truth and His love need to reach all people, and as such we welcome you to join us in “Connecting to one another in the contagious joy of following Jesus!”
Prayer for the Day
Father God, we look forward to Your leadership as we embrace connecting to one another in the contagious joy of following Jesus. In His name we pray – and follow. Amen.