Blog posts filed under | spiritual thought
Honor Me!
Friday January 12, 2007 | (1) Comments | James Waugh
Filed Under: James Waugh | spiritual thought
I love looking at houses on the internet. What can you get for one million dollars in Nashville, how about two million dollars? I am amazed at the size of homes these days; amazed at the number of homes for sale and the rising cost of them. Yet, we all dream of the perfect home. Our pursuit for the all American dream continues. We work harder for the bigger home, the car, the kids, the bank account, the second home on the beach.
How do we honor God?
God was not pleased with the remnant who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian captivity. Oh, they started rebuilding the temple. There was much fanfare when the foundation was laid. A huge celebration occurred. But the locals didn’t like the fact that these returning guests who came home to claim their land were rebuilding this structure to their God.
The locals did everything they could to discourage the remnant. Not just for a few days, or a few months, but for years – try around fifteen years. They even hired people to do dole out the discouragement. Could you take it for long? Could you put up with the constant harassment?
As time went on, the remnant forgot their purpose. They forgot why they returned. They were there to honor God and to rebuild the temple, but the work slowly diminished and the remnant chose to establish their own homes in the region. And why not? They had been gone for seventy years. Some of them had never seen Palestine. They were living in slavery, and now they returned to their land. Why not spend time building their own homes.
The people say, “The time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.” Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” No this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.” (Haggai 1:2-5)
Get out your Bibles and read the rest of that chapter – go ahead and read the whole book. It won’t take you long. They did not honor God. And because they did not honor Him, He did not bless them. Their plants were not growing. They didn’t have enough to eat or drink. They were cold and money was scarce. Why? Because God refused to bless them due to the fact they refused to honor Him.
Think about it? Do we truly honor God with our first fruits?
”If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.”
Does it have to be bigger and better? Are we living our lives as strangers, aliens in this land? If you ask me, we have taken up residence. We are building our houses bigger and bigger. Our time, talents and treasures are tied up in our pursuit of permanent residency. If I truly was an alien, I don’t think I would buy season tickets – I hope I would be going home soon. I would not invest in a permanent dwelling – I have a mansion being prepared for me.
Sure, I would be content in my life as an alien. I would take in God’s great creation as an alien. I would enjoy the foods of a foreign country and get to know its culture and people. But I hope I would never forget. This world is not my home. I am just passing through.
So, what has happened to us?
We wonder why our lives are a mess. Do we even have to ask why we are sick, why our lives are miserable? If we don’t honor God, He will not bless us. It is a simple principle. One that can be found supported in scripture.
That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:30-32)
God is trying to get our attention. Honor ME!!! How many times do I have to drop something on your head before you get it? Honor ME!!! Do you want to end up condemned with the rest of the world? Honor ME!!!
Maybe it is time for all of us to remember the words of God, “Give careful thought to your ways.”
Moved by God
Wednesday January 10, 2007 | (2) Comments | James Waugh
Filed Under: James Waugh | spiritual thought
There are very few times when I have noticed my heart being stirred by God. Does that make me…
Move My Heart
Tuesday January 2, 2007 | (0) Comments | James Waugh
Filed Under: James Waugh | spiritual thought
Study time: Daniel Daniel lived his life as if God were with him every single day and hour. When…