Have you ever been distracted?
This is what happened to the children of Israel. They were distracted from God’s work. Because of the peoples’ disobedience, God allowed the Babylonian nation to conquer Israel and destroy the temple.
While in captivity, Israelites received permission to rebuild the temple. The people were doing good work, but the work stopped. For over 10 years, there was no work being done.
Then the word of the Lord came to Haggai. His message was to stir up the people to complete the work on the temple.
“Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste.” (Haggai 1:9)
Haggai says: Consider your ways. “Ye have sown much and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough, ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink, ye clothe you, but there are none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.”
Think about it. You try to satisfy yourself by eating, drinking and buying clothes, but none of these things satisfies. You work for a paycheck, but where does it go?
“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts.” The third prophecy was a question. He asked: If you are holy and touch something, will that thing be holy? NO. If something unclean touches something clean, will it be unclean? YES. So are the people and every work of their hands unclean.
They were clean at one time but by touching the unclean things of the world, they too have become unclean. Sin is catching.
The last prophecy was for consolation: “I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will destroy the strength of the heathen….. for I have chosen thee saith the Lord of hosts.”
God would destroy the power of the heathen … and said the reason why He’s taking care of them is because He choose them as his own.
You’ve been distracted long enough. It’s time to get back to work at the church, for the church and in the church. Your call is waiting!
