Devotional

³ ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? ⁴ But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁵ ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ ⁶ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. ⁷ I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ⁸ ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁹ ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:3-9

God’s people were freed from Babylonian captivity and returned home to Jerusalem. They were tired and discouraged, so much that they neglected rebuilding God’s temple, and instead, committed to rebuilding their own homes. It was God that delivered them out of captivity, but His temple had been neglected. How often do we do the same when we are released from harsh seasons or sin cycles? In the name of recovering and healing, we take to rebuilding our own house while God’s temple is neglected.

God invites us to rebuild His temple first, and He promises that it will exceed its former glory. It is upon His firm foundation that we should build our lives. God appoints leaders to your local church body to take on the continual project of rebuilding and maintaining His temple (a relationship with God through Jesus). Growing in our relationship with God is not a “you” or “I” thing. It is a “we” thing. The church body works together, God’s glory fills the temple, and He declares that in this place He will bring peace.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise you for the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. You gave life to your spiritual body through the same power that brought Christ back to life from the dead. You have freed us from the captivity of sin and we are a new creation. We are called to participate with you in the building of your temple, which is now within us. May that reality of your presence in us also manifest in the presence and building up of your spiritual body in the world, which is the Church and whose head is Jesus Christ. May our love for the Church reflect that of Christ’s love for His Bride.

Scripture Memorization

Haggai 2:6-7 ⁶ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. ⁷ I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Photo Credit: Bill Zielinski @zphotobc

Music Credit: Pat Barrett (ft. Cory Asbury) – Build My Life

Devotional Written by: Sambi Katano

Prayer: Pastor Deborah Downs