A life submitted to God is full of opportunity and excitement. But such a submitted life requires discipline and perseverance. Though the world may scream for us to turn, we must be determined to live by the truth of God's Word through the enabling power of His Spirit.
In 586 BC, the armies of Babylon destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. About 50 years later, the Jewish people started to rebuild, but after a few years, their priorities began to shift. Their comfort and the condition of their own homes became more important than being obedient to God's call: "Is it time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house {of the Lord} remains a ruin?" Haggai 1:4. God sent the prophet Haggai to challenge the people to reconsider their values and return to the work they had begun.
"Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have 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."Haggai 1:5-6
The people had turned from rebuilding the Temple to building their own homes - from rebuilding their spiritual lives to building the comfort of their physical lives. They found that no matter how hard they worked, they never had enough. Isn't it amazing how the foundational truths of life never change?
We have more pulls on our priorities today than at any other time in history. There are more distractions, more temptations, and many more "construction projects" that cry for our time and energy. But if our focus remains on building for our own physical comfort and security, we will also be ones who find we are NEVER satisfied. It may take many years to realize this truth, but without an eternal focus on the glory and honor of God, all our effort drains away.
Our lives have become a Temple of God - a Temple being built to worship Him for all eternity, and one which must not fall into ruin! We must build the foundation of this Temple through intimate prayer and the study of His Word. We must cover all we build with an overriding desire to love God "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" Mark 12:30.
Each and every day we are given the task of building His Spiritual Temple. Let's not be turned from this task by projects which so easily fade away. Let's refocus our priorities and diligently build ALL for His glory.
- adapted from steve troxel
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