Let’s take a step away from the duties at hand just for a moment and review a call to return. From time to time we pick back up on topics that were addressed some time ago and tonight it is one of those times. It’s a chance to hear what the Lord is saying through Haggai.
There is a proverb (in Ecclesiastes) that says a three stranded cord can not be easily torn. Lil’ John said there are three things on earth that bare witness. And what Haggai says is still relevant today. Build the temple up! Restore to the Lord His dwelling place for communion. The temple was the connection where God would hear their prayers and forgive their sins. It was holy and sanctified. One could say precious.
The inhabitants of the land had begun planting the trees for fruit and food. But the yield was only of portion of what it was supposed to be. Why because the relationship hadn’t been fully restored. Homes were built. Commerce was promising, but struggling too. The land wasn’t budding the right amount of produce. Why?
In the balance of life, we are given a three stranded cord that calls on the Host of Heaven. One for the Father, one for the Son, and one for the Holy Spirit. You can not pull on one without drawing the attention of the other two! As string woven together, so is the God we serve. They are three but one. And God sent a prophet to alert the people that two thirds of the promise was restored. But their negligence held back the full rain. So God gave them Haggai to remind them that now was the time to build up the temple!
Once this was acted upon the final blessing came. The foundation stones were laid and the Lord said, “from this day forward I will bless thee.” Then He told Haggai to tell Zerubbabel this: “I will take you and make you as My signet ring, for I have chosen you, says the Lord of Host.” God was letting them know that the three stranded cord was now restored and they could move forward. We could move forward.
It was the same message 2500 years later. The trees were planted, the houses were built, but where was the Lord? The message hadn’t changed… The calling was still the same. Build up your temple unto the Lord. No, it doesn’t have to be a physical piece of land and building. It’s much simpler than that today. Take time and set it apart for the Lord each day. Open with prayer, a song, a bible verse or two. Just take time to have a two-way on your three stranded cord!
Mine starts most mornings just after 4:30am. I make it a point to join up before I embark on the day ahead. May you be called out this day and reminded that the blessing is the union! Everything else is just a result of that relationship!
Godspeed, The Journeyman
Ps. Today’s story comes from the reality of life. May the saltiness of the Lord be found in you! In Haggai there is more to the story. This is just a continuation. Find Him!
Readings for today: Haggai 2: 19, 23; Ecclesiastes 4: 12; I John 5.
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