An Emoji Devotions for Thu, 11 March 2021
By H.U WengerSeeking the Kingdom of heaven first and making a living – it can be a struggle
In Matthew 6:33 Jesus tells us that we should not care much about our clothing and our food, but rather seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and so all the worldly stuff will be given unto us.
The Prophet Haggai depicts for us the struggle the Jews faced who, returned from the Babylonian exile back to Jerusalem. They had the task to rebuild the city and the temple, but it was extremely difficult because so many tasks should have been done simultaneously. Additionally the people of the land did not really welcome them and often they had to physically defend themselves. People were poor and the initial excitement to be back home and to rebuilt the temple had vaporized long ago. In this situation the Prophet Haggai brings the message: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ”Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 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.” This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.” “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. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 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.” (Haggai 1, 2 – 7; 9 – 11) The prophet makes it very clear: your bad time is not just bad luck, but you are going through a bad time, because you are not seeking the kingdom of God! In Verse 8 God says through the prophet: “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. He asks for a leap of faith, so that God will be honored and the bad times will be taken away.
The wonder actually happened. The people did what the Lord wanted them to do: So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God. (Verse 14) With the act of obedience the tune changed immediately. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. (Verse 13) The temple could be finished, although it did not have the same splendor and glory as had the temple of Salomo. God comforted them with the future glory of the temple in the one thousand year kingdom of Jesus Christ. The same way the glory of the New Testament church is still hidden in Christ, but as soon as Christ will be revealed, the church and every single member of it will be revealed in glory. (Colossians 3:2)
Highlights: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. (Haggai 1:13); So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31 – 34)
Prayer: Dear Lord please show me, if I have fallen in the same trap the Jews were caught in. Help me to take the necessary leap of faith. I want and I need your assurance that you are with me. Amen
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