Thursday
Haggai 2:3-9
Sometimes it is difficult to see beyond ourselves to the work God is doing. This was the case for God’s people who had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The foundation for the temple, which had been prepared upon their initial return to their homeland, sat untouched for 16 years. Still, after all that time, God refocused his people on the task to which he called them.

Here is the thing though—because of their lack of resources, this new temple would not even come close in comparison to the majesty of the temple that had been destroyed. To many of the Israelites, this realization both saddened and discouraged them. Haggai’s second message expanded the people’s vision beyond their present reality to see that God was doing far more than just having his temple rebuilt. Hundreds of years later, the temple was expanded and remodeled. However, it was the coming of Jesus Christ and his message of salvation and reconciliation that fulfilled Haggai’s words that the “latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former.” As we begin to build, let us be reminded we are doing so to be on mission with God to reconcile the world to himself through his son, Jesus Christ.