April 15, 2019
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of 1 Chronicles 29:11, “The Lord reigns over all, in your hand is power, and might. In Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength”.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above context we come to know that the Lord reigns over all, and there is power and might in His hand. He has the power to make one great and to give one strength. God gave power and strength to prophet Haggai, to deal with the people wisely. The Jews actually returned from the Babylonian captivity, under the leadership of Zerubbabel. At first the Hebrews had been anxious to re establish their religious tradition. They set up the altar of burnt offerings. And laid the foundations of the temple. But soon they became discouraged due to opposition, so the work of restoration was suspended.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, But Prophet Haggai, encouraged the people to resume their work on the house of God. But gradually selfish materialism corroded their hearts, and they were more concerned for personal ambitions than the Lord’s interest. They actually neglected the building of God’s house, that they may have more time, and money for worldly affairs. Many good works that had been intended regarding the building of temple, was badly neglected as people considered that the proper time had not come to build the temple. Thus they shirked off their responsibility.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, thus even today believers slip off opportunities that are useful and many neglect the concerns, of their souls. If we labour for the meat that perishes, we are in fear, of losing our labour. That is why Haggai says, You have planted much, but bring in little. You eat, but you are never satisfied. There is much drinking, and not to exhilarate. You put on clothes but you cannot keep yourself warm. As long as sin lasted, so long they received punishment. As a result God’s appointment in nature to satisfy, to gladden, and to warm, failed of its effect. Hence it is better and wiser to seek to be blessed by God, who bestowed, on us all things. The Bible says, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank you Lord for telling us that all our labour will be in vain, if we labour for the meat that perishes. Lord let not selfish materialism corrode our hearts. But teach us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, so that we may inherit the blessings of God.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
