“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Haggai 1:4
Dear Ones:
The story is told in John’s gospel where Jesus, being wearied from his journey, was sitting by Jacob’s well. He asked a Samaritan woman, who came to draw water, for a drink. After her surprise that a Jew would ask a Samaritan for water, the Lord Jesus said to her: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (4:10) In this singular meeting, recorded in Scripture for all to see and read, since the day it was written, is revealed the very heart, intent, and will of God…to give Life to the lifeless, living water to the thirsty of soul. But beyond that meeting, there was a greater need, and this Jesus would address, when from the city where the woman lived, many would come out to see Him. With Jesus being, not only intent on speaking the life-giving truth to the woman, would come from His own lips the words: “My food is to do the will of Him that sent Me.” (v.34) What was that “will” of God? It was the total commitment, at all times, led by the Spirit, to “seek and save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) He was doing so for the woman, and then He turned his eyes towards those who were coming to Him because her testimony. At this moment, he tells His disciples: “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they ARE white for harvest!” (v.35) What is the Lord Jesus seeking to convey to us by His example and words? It is that the heart of God never ceases to do that which is of highest worth and purpose, to save the lost, give life to the dying. Beyond bread to eat is the food of doing the will of God to accomplish this. The commitment of Christ to the Father, was one of the present, and continuing, moment in time.
In the book of Haggai, we read where certain exiles had returned from captivity, and had begun to rebuild the temple. There were many obstacles to accomplishing this task, the first being complacency. Work had begun on the temple, but because of resistance by the enemies of the Jews, the work was halted for approximately fifteen years. The second obstacle had to do with the comparison of their present endeavors, and appearance of the temple, as opposed to that of Solomon. The Lord asked them, “In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?” (2:3) And lastly, the third obstacle was that of their concept of time, God’s time as opposed to their own. In the beginning of the book, God asks the people: “Is it time…(for) this temple to lie in ruins?” From heaven’s standpoint, the answer was, “no.” It will be by the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, that the Lord will in turn stir up the heart of Zerubbabel, the governor, and of the High Priest Jehozadak, and also of the people of the land. The messages of the prophets spoke of “cleanness” before God, which was essential to the success of the rebuilding. Then God would address the issue of partial blessing as opposed to God’s full blessing upon the work, essential for corresponding results. Then, lastly, God would deal with the issue of time, specifically HIS commitment to meet them all: “From THIS day I will bless you.” (v.19)
Dear Father, give us grace to be wholly committed to You in this day, for this day, realizing that You have committed Yourself to us for the accomplishing of Your will, Your way, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad