Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? — Haggai 1:4 NKJV
Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? — Haggai 1:4 NIV
Reflection on Verse for Today
When the Lord chastens people He loves when we stray from the path of truth, God is just and righteous and will punish any of His children who do so. In addition to keeping His word to the Church, which is the Body of Christ, God is faithful and true to His Word. He will fulfill all the promises He made to the children of Israel. God will complete His plans and purposes for ALL of His people in His own time and in His own way.
Let us resolve to believe and follow the divine Word of God. May we carefully adhere to the commandments provided to the Christian Church in the New Testament, and may we study everything He has for us to learn throughout the Holy Scripture, both Old and New.
May we work to give Him the prominence He deserves in our lives and to give those things top priority in the eyes of the Lord. May we be those who strengthen the church because as a whole, we are being transformed into a spiritual temple for God’s greater glory. And may we assess our own selves to determine whether there is anything that dishonours His holy name.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for using the fascinating history of Your people Israel to impart spiritual lessons to us and to forewarn us of the perils of disobedience or negligence in our Christian lives. Thank You that I am a living stone in the spiritual Temple of God, which is being constructed for Your everlasting glory, and that the Holy Spirit resides inside me.
Keep me from wasting the limited time I have left or putting off essential spiritual matters. Help me to live and work for Your everlasting praise and glory. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.