SATURDAY June 18, 2022

A Vision for God’s Work

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying: “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?’ ”
Haggai 2:1-3

Haggai is a very important book, as the prophet spoke a crucial message to the Jews. Remember, the Lord had allowed His people to go into captivity in Babylon, and after 70 years, only 50,000 return to the land. The older Jews wept when they saw the terrible condition of their Temple.

Solomon’s Temple, in its former glory, was magnificent, but what was it like now in comparison? The Temple was burned down ransacked of all its utensils and all the gold and silver. The glory of God had departed. The Lord’s intent was for His people to restore the Temple, but there was a hindrance to its restoration. The Jews neglected it while building their own beautiful homes. They had no vision to do the work of God.

Whenever God calls us to do something for His glory, it seems the enemy gets us sidetracked from His work. Why is that? I find people have literally dried up spiritually. They are no longer having a devotional time with the Lord. When they fail to have a disciplined devotional life, they have no real direction, and they become deaf to the will of God for their lives.

The Christian life is to be Christ-centered, not self-centered. God desires that we would align ourselves with His perfect will––to bring honor and glory to His name. We always need to have a vision and passion for what God has called us to do. We cannot do any God-given task if we are submitted and committed to Jesus Christ in our relationship to Him. What has God called you to do? Obey the call and fulfill your ministry.

...whatever you do, find the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated passion of your life, and find your way to say it and live it and die for it. And you will make a difference that lasts. You will not waste your life.
~John Piper~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!