- Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Haggai 2:3 – Haggai is now speaking to the elderly group of God’s people that had returned back to Jerusalem after the exile. We learn that while Solomon’s temple was destroyed decades earlier, some of the people listening to Haggai were old enough to have seen Solomon’s temple in all its glory. And it was glorious! Solomon spared no expense and made that temple a wonder to look at. Yet this new rebuild of the temple was clearly not matching the former glory. We learn from Ezra 3 that these older Israelites who had seen the previous temple and were now seeing the foundation of this new temple wept loudly because it didn’t even compare to what they had before. What’s dangerous about this comparison game is we can fall into the mindset that if part is not grander than someone else’s, isn’t worth offering. If our gifts aren’t as great as theirs, then why serve? If our money isn’t as much as theirs, then why give? Since the temple isn’t as good as the old one, why build this new one? Why? Because God told them to build it! Likewise we offer our gifts to the Lord because He told us to. It’s alright if what you can offer the Lord is less than that of someone else. That reality shouldn’t be the reason you hold back from serving and giving to the Lord. What He is asking from us is to be faithful with the amount He has entrusted to us. Let others give more and let others give less, and rejoice when both happens when they give faithfully to the Lord. The only comparison we should keep in mind is remembering what God has done for us and what what God has given to us…everything. Let that comparison fuel you to give back to Him what He is calling us to give to Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2955
- …And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts. (v.9b) Has peace been absent lately in your story? Where the insanity of life has created a constant state of worry and restlessness that you just can’t avoid. You’ve found some ways to at least give your mind a break, but that true peace that gives rest in the craziness just isn’t there right now. If that’s you and you’re longing for that sort of peace, then my next question to you is how often are you coming to where God is at? Coming to Him in His Word? Coming to Him in worship? Coming to Him in prayer? Fact is, peace is available. The sort of peace that you’re looking for is available. God is also informing us that He is willing to give that sort of peace to us. He does say though, “In this place I will give peace.” Meaning that peace is found where He is at. Meaning our search for peace without seeking after Him first will come up empty. If peace is what you need, be seeking after Him first. In His Word, in prayer, in service, in lending a hand to a broken soul. Just understand what you really need is not peace, what you really need is Jesus. In Him is where you’ll find what you need to make it through life. – Daily DEVO 84
- Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you. Haggai 2:19 – What we see in this verse is a picture of a before and after. Before the people started following God and after. We read that before they would come to gather food and never find enough. Even with all their toils they weren’t finding the satisfaction of their needs. Yet now that they have chosen to pursue after God, He speaks of shaking the treasures out of other nations to pour into them. Just hear this, scripture isn’t promising that when you follow God you’ll have riches, it is promising though you’ll be blessed. Maybe those blessings with be financial, maybe though you’ll be blessed with joy or find healing in broken relationships. Know that following God is a truly blessed life. Lean into this and see it for yourself. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1114
- The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:9 – God is speaking to His people who are in the process of rebuilding the temple. He especially is speaking to the ones who had seen with their own eyes the beauty of the old temple. His word is clear, what’s to come will be greater than what was. This promise is one we too need to lean into within our story. What was in our life doesn’t even compare to what’s to come. Our life before Jesus has nothing compared to our life with Jesus and especially our future in Heaven. Haggai then is pushing the people to consider their ways, past and future. God is inviting them into blessing, but obedience to Him now is key. God is inviting us into blessing as well, but obedience now is key for us as well. Will we be willing to consider our ways and the outcome of such ways so far in our story? Can we see how turning to sin did not produce the fruit we hoped for? Are we willing to consider the truth that obedience to God in life will produce everything we need? God’s hand is stretched out to you inviting you to blessing and into promise. You simply need to walk in a path towards Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2109
Daily DEVO 