Well, summer is “officially” here. School let out yesterday. And what a summer this promises to be! Already, I have more packed into the next three weeks than I ever dreamed possible. Let the games begin! That had nothing to do with Word Wednesday. Just felt like sharing. 🙂 This week, Haggai has everything to do with Word Wednesday! It’s a short, short book, so if you want to read it right quick and jump in, feel free! Drop to the comments below and let us know what blew you away in the big little book of Haggai! Next week, Zechariah!
Haggai 1:4b-5–“Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty. “And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”
It wasn’t until I started doing Word Wednesday that I realized just how many of the minor prophets addressed Israel in a way that applies to our nation and the church today. It seems like every single week we hit upon something that makes me go, “Hey! That’s us!” It’s one of those things… I always knew the Bible is eternally relevant, I just didn’t realize HOW eternally relevant if that makes any sense.
This verse is pretty self-explanatory, and boy, does it ever give me a ton of hope to know that God is always with us. Another thing I never noticed until Word Wednesday started is just how many times He says that. He knew we’d need the reminder, huh?
At any rate, the thing that stands out to me in this verse is what seems, at first, to be out of place. “I am with you… Be strong…” and then comes, “and WORK.” Ding, ding, ding!!! God never intended for us to sit on our hands and wait for Jesus to come back. He never intended us to sit back, hold out our open palms, and wait for blessings to fall into them. Prayer is important, but He also meant for us to get up of our knees, get out there, and work for Him. There are souls who have yet to hear about Him. There are hungry people to feed and the poor to clothe. There are mourning people to comfort. Look around this world… There is a lot our hands can do in the name of Jesus!
One other thing… God has given each of us talents. Some are great evangelizers. (I am not one of them, by the way.) Others are great at discipling those who have already accepted Christ. (This is more me.) Still others are good at sweeping floors, repairing broken porches, mowing a neighbor’s grass, sending a card to encourage someone… Just because your talent and “job” in the kingdom doesn’t look like someone else’s doesn’t mean you aren’t as good as them or you aren’t working for Him. Ask Him where HE wants you, then jump on it. He needs lots of hands doing lots of different things!
-JB
Jen says
Oh my…. I so needed that this morning! I just got to work feeling tired, cranky, and wishing I were anywhere else. But for better or worse, herding cats is one of the talents God has given me. 🙂 Thanks for reminding me that I can be strong despite my grumpiness because He is with me! Hopefully I’ll remember to post my verse later…
Jodie says
🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
Jessica R. Patch says
Amen and Amen! We’re on the same page today, Jodie. Service! 😉
One body, many gifts, all to be used for His glory! I love your Word Wednesdays, girl, and I feel ya about being super busy. Summer launched like a bull out of the stables didn’t it?
Jodie says
Are you SURPRISED we are on the same page? Summer is all over me this year. It’s going to be a footrace this year!
Dawn Lucowitz says
Haggai 2:5 – This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.
So, I am out of town now and am having trouble focusing on this week’s comment, so I will be brief and to the point (so unlike me) 🙂
I just love the lines in this verse. I love that we are reminded His Sprit remains among us and that we really don’t have anything to fear ever. We are not of this world and we are given the Spirit to help us make it through our time here. God’s promises are real and true and we don’t ever have to doubt that.
Jodie says
Look at you! Replying on vacation! You so deserve an award… Yummy coffee drinks. 🙂
Any verse that says we have no reason to fear is an awesome verse in my book. It’s amazing how many times God tells us not to fear. Think He knew we’d need lots of reminding!
Jen says
A day late, but here we go….
Haggai 1:9- “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.”
One of the things God has been hammering me about lately is priorities. Hard as I try, I don’t always keep Him at the top of the list where He belongs. Sometimes I put my own agenda ahead of His. And when I do, things may go along as planned for a short while…. until He decides to put me in my place! Without Him at the center of whatever it is I’m trying to do, all of my hard work is eventually “blown away.” If I’m too busy with my own house to worry about His, my expectations will never be met. The great thing, however, is that when HE is our priority, things will often turn out better than we either expected or dreamed they could. Funny how that works out, isn’t it? 😉