Rebuilding God’s house is not about a building

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” (Haggai 1:2–11)

It is easy to slip into a worldly value system when the home is nice and all is convenient. Yet I am noticing that contentment easily slips away. I just heard someone say how nice it would be to live where cold water comes out of the fridge (instead of a tap and needs ice cubes to make it cold). This level of dissatisfaction hurts my heart.

Organizations like Run for H2O exist to provide clean water to people whose children are dying because their water is contaminated. People in our affluent country are now paying outrageous prices for steak, produce, and gasoline, etc. To want convenient cold water seems atrocious in comparison. I also notice how the rich politicians seem to have little awareness of how the rest of the world struggles.

But before I get on my high horse, how about my personal preferences? The past few months, I’ve been tested and very often found wanting — wanting my own way, my choices, and being annoyed when I could not do or even say my ideas and opinions. 

The point Haggai is making is that those who love God need to keep Him and His will on the top of the list. In the NT, He says that the house of the Lord is me — God lives in me. And I’m to let my light (Jesus) shine before others, so that they may see my good works and give glory to my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) Too often I want my goodness to be seen so others will think well of me. That is not the will of God. 

Too often I want comfort not trials and yet judge harshly those who want comfort and not the lessons and maturity God brings through trials. These days, the learning curves have been steep and too often I’ve complained rather than obeyed.

Lord Jesus, life just changed again. I need to obey what You are teaching me, not just write it down and forget about it when the next test comes. You are amazingly merciful, yet often I think I need a 2 x 4 to the side of my head or a boot taken to my backside instead of Your never-ending patience.

When will God change a life gone wrong?

Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God. (Zephaniah 3:1–2)

The prophet is talking about Jerusalem; however, this passage describes someone that I know. Is it fair to change the name and place and be encouraged by what God says about a person not a city and apply it today as well as several thousand years ago? God is the same now as then except now we have these promises on this side of Calvary. The prophet goes on…

The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame. (Zephaniah 3:5)

Yes, God has not changed. He is righteous and just, yet this person and many like her seem to feel no shame about their backsliding. However, God still speaks:

I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’ But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt. “Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. (Zephaniah 3:7–8)

A day is coming when God will make all things right. He will deal with sin and those who have spurned Him, but look what He will do with those who are His, but are now without humility or loving obedience to Him…

“On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain. But I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord, those who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” (Zephaniah 3:11–13)

He will make it right. My heart has been wounded with concern for this person and others who have been in relationship with God but are still wanting to run their own lives and have become haughty about it. God will sort it out. He knows how to humble the proud — or remove the proud.

Jesus, I feel so ignorant and unable when it comes to dealing with backsliding believers. The prodigal’s father let him go, but watched for his return home. How difficult now as there are so many lures to keep them in party-mode without any praise for You. Yet You got the prodigal’s attention by pig food and a deep longing for home. You know who they are — bring the wayward back to You, and help me from being anxious, annoyed, or judgmental as I wait.

 
 

Loving enemies?

I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory. Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.” This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts. (Zephaniah 2:8–10)

God hears the taunts and insults that people make against His people. Some sneer as if His children are stupid or foolish, as if our values and priorities have no value at all. This can be discouraging if I listen to them instead of the words of God. 

The people who do this might feel superior, as did the enemies of His OT people, but God promises to deal with them. At that time, it was to make losers out of them, wasting their efforts and prosperity, even allowing His people to plunder them.

I don’t think that is how I should deal with those who taunt my faith and ideas. God tells me:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43–48)

In a parallel passage, He adds these ways to show love: “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

He challenges me that loving those who treat me well is no different from sinners. I’m to do this even if there is no benefit to me at all. God will reward me and I will be more like Him when I do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, am kind to the ungrateful and even evil people. I’m to be merciful, as He is merciful, without judging or condemning. He even says how I give will be given to me in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over because the measure I use will be measured back to me. (Luke 6:27–38)

My sinful nature wants to get even, tell others in an effort to seek sympathy, and even ask God to break that person for their thoughtless and mean ways. Sigh.

Jesus, it seems that in every relationship that no matter what the other person does to me that hurts, I’ve something to change in myself. I’m glad that You do not put me on the receiving end of conflict unless it is to instruct me how to be more like You. 

Up and Down Days

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. . . . (Micah 5:2–5)

Yesterday was up, then down. A couple of nice surprises encouraged me. Then circumstances with others pulled me down as it seemed my prayers for certain people would never be answered. Yet last night I asked for sleep without anxiety and received it. This morning I asked for encouragement and the above passage popped up. God promises the One who would come and be my peace, turning my thoughts to the power of Jesus. He is my peace. Another passage reminds me that my inner joy does not depend on outer circumstances. Paul wrote this from prison:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. . . . Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:8;11–13)

Many times this passage is interpreted to mean that God will give me the ability to do whatever task that faces me, but “doing all things” is not about accomplishments because the context says it means having a deep confidence that God is in control and being content no matter the circumstances. 

It helps to know people who think positively like this, not that they can do everything but that their attitude of deep contentment overrides whatever is going on in their lives. Our friend BT was a great example. He had more reasons to be discouraged than anyone I know. He recently went home to Jesus, and I miss him and that “I’m fine” attitude that was totally genuine. Life is full of lemons yet he always poured out sweet lemonade, not a pollyanna happy-happy, but a deep joy in Jesus and His gift of thinking praiseworthy thoughts rather than ‘poor me’.

My mom is missed too. Her attitude, even into Alzheimers, was “I must need it or I would not be getting it.” That means that God wants me to see the lack of godliness in those I love? Is this to show me more about the attitude of God toward them? Or more about my need to trust what I cannot see? 

Micah wrote more and these words tell me to keep waiting and keep praying:

Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms; for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (Micah 7:5–7)

Micah says the worst yet kept his focus on the promises of God. He tells me not to trust what my eyes tell me, and look to the Lord when it seems that liar who is our enemy is in control.  

Lord God, so often I just want to hide from the ugliness around me and the messy news and all that makes me sad. Thinking excellence is deeply challenging when the ugly messiness is nearer than a TV newscast. Instead of escaping, deepen my faith in You and deepen my prayer life so that I can be content even when Your will and my wants seem to oppose one another. Your goodness is far deeper. I need to trust You more, even when it seems like You are not hearing my heart cries. Deepen my faith.

 

Overcoming false prophets

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. (Micah 3:5–8)

In the OT, false prophets were identified by what motivated them. In this passage, it was not spiritual illumination from the Lord, but personal desires. Micah calls it food, yet it could be anything that makes them feel good, satisfied, taken care of. They were more interested in their own comfort than in truth.

Today, there are some involved in ‘Christian’ ministry that are preaching a similar message. They say that God wants us healthy, wealthy, and wise and the more generously we give, the greater the blessing. While God blesses generosity, that motive for giving is self-centered and fleshy. 

Other false prophets are those in the cults. They call themselves true Christians and sincerely believe their way is the right way. However, they interpret the Word of God with their own way of thinking and not relying on the Holy Spirit to enlighten them. One of these cults says Jesus is “a god” and insert that “a” in this verse:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

They do not know or ignore that the original language this was translated from does not have a word for “a” — and they ignore all other references to the deity of Jesus Christ. 

They also claim that faith means Jesus “died to give us the right to earn our salvation” — an idea that is nowhere in the Bible. Yet they boast that they are the only right ones who please God. They ignore this::

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

In this verse and all others, faith is about believing in and trusting the Lord, not ourselves or any ability to earn salvation. It is also a gift, not earned. 

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

Humility is vital. If I am proud of myself and brag about how godly I am and give no credit to the power of God and the Person of Jesus Christ, then I am deceived at best and teaching lies at worst.

Lord Jesus, only You can change lives. The best we can do becomes a boast, a personal ego trip into darkness. Micah was filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare truth to the false prophets of his day and to the people who had been deceived by them. Oh Lord, we need more people like Micah in our day too. 

 

The ‘Jonah’ attitude…

Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. (Jonah 1:11–16)

This well-known story describes what God did when Jonah tried to avoid obedience. God told him to take the gospel to Nineveh but he didn’t want to see repentance happen in this evil city. So he jumped on a ship going the other direction and wound up in a very stormy sea. Those manning the ship knew enough about him to ask him to fix the problem. That is how Jonah wound up in the water and into the belly of a great fish.

Jonah had a choice: repent or die in digestive juices. He reluctantly decided to obey God, did what he was told, and the citizens of Nineveh repented.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” (Jonah 3:10–4:4)

Jonah demonstrates the desires of the old nature vs. the will of God. He makes me wonder how often would I rather a sinful person gets what they deserve rather than receive God's mercy? Think of those normally put in my list: self-serving politicians and others in leadership roles, those in cults who lie to multitudes, false teachers, fools that never seem to use the brains they have, blah, blah, blah.

I have to put myself on that list too. How many times have I acted according to my ‘I wants’ rather than ‘Thy will be done’? What would happen to me if I got what I deserved? Crucified rather than His tender love and care.

An aside. Our oldest son and his wife left their home for awhile and drove to a high place so they could see which way a large tornado was coming. It missed them, but close enough to take out some trees and make the news this morning. 

Jesus, I’m thankful that You know how to counter my selfishness and ungrateful desire to punish those I don’t agree with. I’m also thankful that You know how to warn people of Your incredible power with extreme weather, yet not destroy anyone. You want us to know that You are holy and yet merciful. Thy will be done.

 

God's Priority

You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. (Amos 3:2)

While I moan over the sin in the world, God is far more concerned about my sin, and the sin of others who are in a relationship with Him. As I read what Amos says to His people, I realize that He wants godliness in us that He can use us to do His will, to make a difference in this fallen world.

How He worked in the lives of those who disobeyed Him then is not very different from the way He works in the lives of His people today.

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “An adversary shall surround the land and bring down your defenses from you, and your strongholds shall be plundered.” Thus says the Lord: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed. (Amos 3:11–12)

In poetic form, God speaks through Amos to say my defenses and strongholds must come down. What are they? Things of my own strength. Isaiah defines sin as running my own life (Isaiah 53:6), turning to my own way. My own way may not seem sinful yet it cannot do the will of God without His input and His Spirit. How does He deal with it? By failures and trials.

I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were as a brand plucked out of the burning; yet you did not return to me,” declares the Lord. Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!” For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name! (Amos 4:11–13)

Eventually, if I don’t listen and repent, my way begins to slide downhill from being a matter of inner motives to sinful actions. In Amos’ day it showed up that way and could do the same in me:

They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. . . . Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? . . . . Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:10–24)

God does not want ritual or the form of worship that is surface only. He wants me and all His people to love and obey Him from the heart, regardless of the cost. If I rely on my wits rather than His Spirit, or think my way will work just fine, I am in darkness and will wind up in trouble until I learn to say and do “not my will but thine be done.”

Jesus, Your instruction to Your people is still the same. Your priority is my holiness and the godliness of all those that You live in because of the marvel of Your salvation and redemption. If I live as You desire, then I am useful as a beacon to those who do not know You or anything about the grace that is freely available to them. This is true Christianity.