STAYING CENTERED

January 24, 2022

Haggai 1:1-6 

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. 

 Romans 12:2 

2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Staying Centered

The book of Haggai opens with a message from God to the governor, Zerubbabel, and the high priest, Joshua, urging them to get busy rebuilding God’s temple. Zerubbabel had led a group of about 50,000 people back to Jerusalem to rebuild everything in it, including the temple. They started right on track, until it got difficult. Then they lost interest and began building their own lives, without the worship of God as their centerpiece. Just the opposite of Romans 12:2 above. When their lives weren’t centered on God, all the other details of their lives were falling apart. As we read a moment ago in Haggai 1:6 "You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes." That's what happens when we are off our God-centered living too.

REFLECT

Did any of that description sound familiar?  Has your life ever looked like Haggai 1:6? What have you learned from that period?

Which area of your life do you most need to rebuild your devotion to God? In what areas of your life are you resisting God's leadership?

Consider the ways you may be placing your personal comfort and convenience over your relationship with God and His plans for you. 

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, we’re going to need Your help to see where our lives need remodeling. God, we need Your strength to stay dedicated to the work You’re doing in and through us. Will You come today and refresh our passion for you and your ways? Amen

EPHESIANS 2:19-22

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.