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Not The Right Time?
The Lord Almighty said to Haggai, “These people say that this is not the right time to rebuild the Temple.”The Lord then gave this message to the people through the prophet Haggai: “My people, why should you be living in well-built houses while my Temple lies in ruins?
Haggai 1:2-4 (GNT)
As a young child, one of my after-school routines was to call my mum, who was at the office. Looking back, I know she must have been busy. Yet, she would always take the call, giving her full attention to hear about my day. It was never ‘not the right time’. She prioritised her children.
In Haggai 1, the Israelites did not prioritise God. After returning from Babylonian exile, they grew weary of reconstructing the Temple and stopped mid-way. Instead, they prioritised their homes. It was “not the right time” for worship. Thankfully, God sent Haggai to set their priorities straight. How could they do anything without God’s presence and worship? Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua then rallied the people to rebuild the Temple. It was an act that symbolised bringing the presence of God into their lives.
Consider also how God prioritises His people. Whenever we approach Him, He never says, “Not the right time.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father, sorry for the times we neglect You. It is always the right time to be in Your presence. Set our priorities straight! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture
About this Plan
When Persia defeated Babylon in 539 BC, the exiled Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. However, the construction project remained stagnant and was gradually neglected by the people. Haggai thus preached four passionate sermons to exhort them to shift from living a self-centred to a God-centred life by prioritising building God’s house. Haggai’s call is still very much relevant to Christians today, the church builders.
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