"Hear this word..." What a light in the darkness is this Word of God. What a cure for what ails us. How does one see the light in the darkness and the cure for our hurts? "Seek Me that you may live." In chapter five of Amos, this statement is repeated three times. "Seeking God is being in tune to everything that we see in His Word", Matthew Poole commentates, "The law is sweet, pleasing and safe for all."
Ask about it. Repent of despising it. Obey it in all things for the future. Inquire diligently what promises God has made and wait for them. Believe, obey, repent; for this is to seek the LORD.
Who is He? (v. 8) He is the One Who made the stars, with all the constellations, and not only made them but guides and manages them. He turns the greatest adversity into the greatest prosperity, yet change prosperity to adversity. He renews strength in you to spoil your spoilers (defeat enemies). "
In verse 14, it tells us to "seek good and not evil". We must cry out as undone, dispirited and hopeless men. Are we there yet? God is patient not wanting any to perish. Let us bask in His patience and listen to His Word. Seek God and live. He is the cure. And our need is great!
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Worthless Worship
Worship is the sincere consideration (looking intently; thinking carefully) and adoration of the One True God. Apart from that, it is worthless worship or another way to say it, no worship, empty worship or just take away the word "worship" altogether. This is not just an opinion but comes from the source where we come to understand God in the first place.
Amos, chapters four through five give us some details in relation to what God thinks about "invented" worship. I won't copy all the passage here, although it would be a good read to understand. But God talks about their sacrifices, offerings, tithes to Him, yet to other gods as well. He talks about their "fat" way of life living on beds of ease while they oppress the poor and crush the needy. Mr. Poole writes the following in regard to their worthless religion fraught with ceremony and devoid of worship: "You think you please Me? You invented it, so it pleaseth you and you will not be reclaimed. Your worship is yours. It is unwarranted will worship and displeasing to God."
Then God gives them several head's up affirmations of His control with warnings that should have affected their course. In Amos 4:6, God says, "I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities..." (famine), yet this starving people repented not of idolatries. "I forbade the cloud and withhold the rain", Poole says, "that you might see My hand, all to convince you and turn you", 'yet, you have not returned'. I have inflicted you with other judgments as well (v. 9), yet you have not returned'. (v 10) "I have overthrown you and house and goods just like Sodom and Gomorrah, yet you have not returned." Five times in this chapter, God blesses these people with His merciful warnings, yet they did not return. Consequence comes in verse twelve: "Prepare to meet Thy God."
"God! Who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and makes the morning dark. God! The most dreadful and terrible enemy and the most desirable friend. Though you bring the most excellent sacrifice and leave your heart to sin, you have no warrant from God." What warnings is He giving us today? An ongoing theme in all these prophets is repeated, "consider, repent, obey." It's that simple. And we will all meet our God, but we will not all live with Him eternally. We must heed the warnings because they are just as numerous as in the past. If we are breathing, we can still receive His mercy through the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, the Son of His love. "While we were sinners, Christ died for us."
Amos, chapters four through five give us some details in relation to what God thinks about "invented" worship. I won't copy all the passage here, although it would be a good read to understand. But God talks about their sacrifices, offerings, tithes to Him, yet to other gods as well. He talks about their "fat" way of life living on beds of ease while they oppress the poor and crush the needy. Mr. Poole writes the following in regard to their worthless religion fraught with ceremony and devoid of worship: "You think you please Me? You invented it, so it pleaseth you and you will not be reclaimed. Your worship is yours. It is unwarranted will worship and displeasing to God."
Then God gives them several head's up affirmations of His control with warnings that should have affected their course. In Amos 4:6, God says, "I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities..." (famine), yet this starving people repented not of idolatries. "I forbade the cloud and withhold the rain", Poole says, "that you might see My hand, all to convince you and turn you", 'yet, you have not returned'. I have inflicted you with other judgments as well (v. 9), yet you have not returned'. (v 10) "I have overthrown you and house and goods just like Sodom and Gomorrah, yet you have not returned." Five times in this chapter, God blesses these people with His merciful warnings, yet they did not return. Consequence comes in verse twelve: "Prepare to meet Thy God."
"God! Who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and makes the morning dark. God! The most dreadful and terrible enemy and the most desirable friend. Though you bring the most excellent sacrifice and leave your heart to sin, you have no warrant from God." What warnings is He giving us today? An ongoing theme in all these prophets is repeated, "consider, repent, obey." It's that simple. And we will all meet our God, but we will not all live with Him eternally. We must heed the warnings because they are just as numerous as in the past. If we are breathing, we can still receive His mercy through the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, the Son of His love. "While we were sinners, Christ died for us."
Questioning God
Habbakuk starts off with the cry, "How long, O LORD, will I call for help, and You will not hear? I cry out to You, 'Violence!' yet You do not save." And then in verse twelve, he asks, "Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One?" Matthew Poole writes the following in regard to Habakkuk's question and in turn, because Habukkuk's God, and mine are the same, I am comforted.
"Before the mountains, Thou was God...Holy in nature, law, and government, in Thy mercies and judgment, intend to make Thy holiness to appear in due time by saving us, though Thou seem to forget or at least delay the work, yet Thou art the Holy One in the midst of us and we wait for Thee. We are Thine, and oppressed, threatened, and exposed to avarice and cruelty [how like now!]; Thou Who has made us Thine by everlasting covenant of mercy, wilt show us such mercy that we shall outlive the rage of our enemies."
"O LORD" says Habakkuk. Mr. Poole continues: "with humble veneration, Habakkuk doth look toward God and discerneth what quietened his spirit and confirms his faith and patience." O, mighty God..."he intimateth God to be His people's rock and refuge!" Like us, Habakkuk's questions do indeed see answers. "We wait for Thee."
"Before the mountains, Thou was God...Holy in nature, law, and government, in Thy mercies and judgment, intend to make Thy holiness to appear in due time by saving us, though Thou seem to forget or at least delay the work, yet Thou art the Holy One in the midst of us and we wait for Thee. We are Thine, and oppressed, threatened, and exposed to avarice and cruelty [how like now!]; Thou Who has made us Thine by everlasting covenant of mercy, wilt show us such mercy that we shall outlive the rage of our enemies."
"O LORD" says Habakkuk. Mr. Poole continues: "with humble veneration, Habakkuk doth look toward God and discerneth what quietened his spirit and confirms his faith and patience." O, mighty God..."he intimateth God to be His people's rock and refuge!" Like us, Habakkuk's questions do indeed see answers. "We wait for Thee."
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Tragedies
As of today, there have been 125,859 people worldwide that have died from the coronavirus since its onset, about six months ago. Tragic? Yes! As of today, reported by the same source, there are approximately 125,000 abortions a day performed world wide. Tragic? Yes!
It's hard to understand the enormous dichotomy between these two views of death. We find ourselves at this time in history in the middle of a crisis: a pandemic where death is desperately feared and great lengths taken to avoid. Medical teams all over the world put themselves in harm's way to care for the sick and dying, all the while news stories abound of abortion clinics fighting to stay open, fighting for their right to be considered essential. Why are they essential? Consider the answer in this next paragraph from one of three stories.
"There will be an uptick in incomplete abortions and other miscarriage complications as people turn to less effective ways to try to terminate a pregnancy, despite the fact that a safe, easy, non-invasive form of medication abortion exists..."
Essential? Safe, easy, non-invasive? For whom? I'm completely baffled by the disorder represented here! These people are electing to terminate a pregnancy, electing to put an end to a life that is completely viable and desperately in need of protection, yet the terminator needs protecting? I'm not understanding the reasoning here. There is no reason here!
The excerpt from this next story needs no commentary: "We didn't act fast enough to stop COVID-19 from spreading and we could see tens of thousands die because of that inaction. But we can stop this second health crisis from occurring just as long as we act now. Every person deserves the right to decide when and if they want to give birth. We cannot allow a pandemic to strip that away."
And while the next quote is not about abortion but about who should be kept safe during this pandemic, it comes from one who is an abortion supporter. And it speaks volumes to the double standard of of the abortion advocates. "My mother is not expendable and your mother is not expendable and our brothers and sisters are not expendable and we're not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable and we're not going to put a dollar figure on human life." (Mayor Cuomo)
Using terminology from these three recent news stories, consider the tragedy of the dichotomy:
Precious, innocent, helpless little lives have been legally the center of a health crisis for almost fifty years. There is no safety in the specially prepared haven of the womb from the invasion to which they are now subject. Every person, every little one who needs the ultimate of protection deserves the right to be born. We cannot allow convenience to strip that away. We cannot allow the carelessness to continue. These babies are not expendable, these little boys and girls are not expendable, these children are not expendable and we are not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable and we're not going to put a dollar figure on human life! By the help of Almighty God, we will not.
God is Attentive
"Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name." Malachi 3:16 What a verse of comfort to God's people. Many have rehearsed Jehoshaphat's famous words of despair: "For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." (2 Chronicles 20:12) But if you read a few verses before it, you'll find a few more things he did first: "Jehoshaphat was afraid (yes, we are) and turned his attention to seek the LORD..."
Are we faithfully "turning our attention to seek the LORD"? (And Jehoshaphat also proclaimed a fast, which also do most of the prophets in times of disaster, but that's another post.) What sticks me is that they turned their attention to God; not to find various ways of entertainment to fill up this endless void of time as we sit in our houses and wait. To turn our attention to God will be of the utmost benefit to our peace not to mention our growth, our strength, and our fruitfulness. And then we have Malachi who reiterates God's response to that: "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it..."
Matthew Poole says the following about this verse: "'Then'; when atheism and bold contempt of God was grown so high..."(remember Mr. Poole writes in the 1600's and he is writing about times pre-New Testament...'nothing new under the sun'!) He continues about "those who feared the LORD", "those that were truly religious, that knew God's judgments were a great deep, and that His ways were as high above our ways as heaven about the earth, discoursed aright of God's mercy, justice, patience, holiness and wisdom in His government and manage of the sons of men; established one another against the assaults of such proud, contemptuous disputers; encourage each other to wait for God in the way of His judgements. The godly spake things that did become the ways of God"[or in other words 'qualify' or 'appropriate' or 'suitable'...the godly spoke about things that honored God.] And at the end of the verse, the godly are mentioned again "those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name". Mr. Poole says this about them: "that thought about His name with love, esteem, and holy admiration."
There we are: more room for growing, more need for strength, and great need for fruitfulness at a time when people are ripe for the picking. God, bless us with wisdom to make great use of our time during this change in our schedules. Let us "discourse aright of God's mercy, justice, patience, holiness and wisdom in His government and manage of the sons of men." Let us "who fear the LORD speak to one another!" God will be attentive. He said so.
Are we faithfully "turning our attention to seek the LORD"? (And Jehoshaphat also proclaimed a fast, which also do most of the prophets in times of disaster, but that's another post.) What sticks me is that they turned their attention to God; not to find various ways of entertainment to fill up this endless void of time as we sit in our houses and wait. To turn our attention to God will be of the utmost benefit to our peace not to mention our growth, our strength, and our fruitfulness. And then we have Malachi who reiterates God's response to that: "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it..."
Matthew Poole says the following about this verse: "'Then'; when atheism and bold contempt of God was grown so high..."(remember Mr. Poole writes in the 1600's and he is writing about times pre-New Testament...'nothing new under the sun'!) He continues about "those who feared the LORD", "those that were truly religious, that knew God's judgments were a great deep, and that His ways were as high above our ways as heaven about the earth, discoursed aright of God's mercy, justice, patience, holiness and wisdom in His government and manage of the sons of men; established one another against the assaults of such proud, contemptuous disputers; encourage each other to wait for God in the way of His judgements. The godly spake things that did become the ways of God"[or in other words 'qualify' or 'appropriate' or 'suitable'...the godly spoke about things that honored God.] And at the end of the verse, the godly are mentioned again "those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name". Mr. Poole says this about them: "that thought about His name with love, esteem, and holy admiration."
There we are: more room for growing, more need for strength, and great need for fruitfulness at a time when people are ripe for the picking. God, bless us with wisdom to make great use of our time during this change in our schedules. Let us "discourse aright of God's mercy, justice, patience, holiness and wisdom in His government and manage of the sons of men." Let us "who fear the LORD speak to one another!" God will be attentive. He said so.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Huxley Was Right...
As we go through a pandemic with enough food, electricity, running water, TV and the internet, we lack something we long for: socialization. Even those of us who are a bit awkward around people find it confining to be connected only by phone, news and computers. But while I grieve the loss of lives and fear for our heroes in the medical profession who have been spread thin though this calamity, I don't want to miss what I can learn. The limitations of freedoms has made me think, appreciate and revived my desire for mental, verbal, and physical change. And I am grateful for God's grace in transforming and starting change in me over forty years ago. And I realize that there are going to be times and situations that shake our comfort.
And while I've been learning much from the prophets in the last weeks that has strengthened my faith and trust in God, there are other things we can learn as well. Neil Postman is an author my husband has used many times in his teaching Biblical truth. In his book, Amusing Ourselves To Death, Mr. Postman writes the following foreword:
"We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held...we were not visited by Orwellian nightmares. But...alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another -- slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World."
Postman continues with the comparison of the two: "Orwell warns we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. Huxley's vision is that no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think. Orwell feared the banning of books; Huxley feared no reason to ban a book because no one would want to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information; Huxley feared those who would give us so much, we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us; Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny 'failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions.' In Orwell's 1984, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us; Huxley feared what we love will ruin us."
That short foreword speaks volumes about where we are as a people today. And Postman's book is also insightful and nauseatingly true about us. It will make you think about your own course in life. It might make you despair where we are but with despair comes crying out. And when you cry out to God, He guides you what to do with the despair. "Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?" Bow down at the foot of the cross. Jesus suffered the penalty for the cause of despair: sin. He will put us on a path of thinking that will change you and your world. And He gives you everything you need to execute the change successfully.
Huxley was spot on. He had great insight into the human condition. But insight is not enough. It's what you do with the insight that frees you from the bondage. The Bible states the dilemma, the cause, and the cure. While we wait on a cure for Covid-19, let us not waste the time to implement cure for the condition of our souls. It has eternal value.
And while I've been learning much from the prophets in the last weeks that has strengthened my faith and trust in God, there are other things we can learn as well. Neil Postman is an author my husband has used many times in his teaching Biblical truth. In his book, Amusing Ourselves To Death, Mr. Postman writes the following foreword:
"We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held...we were not visited by Orwellian nightmares. But...alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another -- slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World."
Postman continues with the comparison of the two: "Orwell warns we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. Huxley's vision is that no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think. Orwell feared the banning of books; Huxley feared no reason to ban a book because no one would want to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information; Huxley feared those who would give us so much, we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us; Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny 'failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions.' In Orwell's 1984, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us; Huxley feared what we love will ruin us."
That short foreword speaks volumes about where we are as a people today. And Postman's book is also insightful and nauseatingly true about us. It will make you think about your own course in life. It might make you despair where we are but with despair comes crying out. And when you cry out to God, He guides you what to do with the despair. "Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?" Bow down at the foot of the cross. Jesus suffered the penalty for the cause of despair: sin. He will put us on a path of thinking that will change you and your world. And He gives you everything you need to execute the change successfully.
Huxley was spot on. He had great insight into the human condition. But insight is not enough. It's what you do with the insight that frees you from the bondage. The Bible states the dilemma, the cause, and the cure. While we wait on a cure for Covid-19, let us not waste the time to implement cure for the condition of our souls. It has eternal value.
Stirred Up Remnant
In a missions magazine recently, I read that only 4% of Americans follow God (truly follow God). I am blown away by this, yet I am aware of the decline of the churched and true knowledge of the truth. What are we to do? Haggai asks questions too. In chapter 1:4, he says, "Is it time for you to dwell in paneled houses, while the temple lies in ruins?" Mr. Poole says, "You unthankful, forgetful ones living in richly adorned homes while God's house is in rubbish, bare and without superstructure." If only 4% of America are true followers, I would say our "superstructure" needs to be considered. What can we do about it?
"Consider your ways." In verse five, "the great God speaks; hearken. Ponder well the course taken and the success and how you have succeeded...how fruitless your labor has been." Verse six: "you have sown much and brought in little, you eat and are empty, you drink and are thirsty, you are clothed and find no warmth and what you earn is put into a bag with holes." (sounds so familiar) In the article, it states that we as a church do not replicate. We are not growing. Why? A bag with holes? Worthless, heartless, works without the power of God?
God tells us again in verse seven. "Consider your ways." And in verse eight, God gives His people directions: Go...Bring wood....Build. The foundation of the temple was there but without the "superstructure, the power is omitted. And this very gracious promise revived an assurance that God will dwell and afford His presence". "I will!" says God. I will!"
In verse eleven, God calls for a drought. This is very important for us to get into our brains! God is sovereign over ALL things!! We must not mourn when it oppresses us nor should we forget to be thankful when it delights us! We bow and worship! And that is what the political power, the priest and the people did. They obeyed the voice of the Lord, and God assured them: "I am with you!" This confirmation of God from Haggai, Mr. Poole writes, "contains all they can need or desire; it insureth God's presence is always with them and His assistance always to them and His blessing, always upon them. He will be always for, as well as always with them."
And lastly, (I sound like a preacher) "the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zeurbbabel, the governor, and the spirit of Joshua, son of the high priest and the spirit of the remnant of the people; and they came and did the work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God." Poole writes: "This is the first notable effect of God's presence...a sensible performance of His promise, God inclined their minds, fixed their resolutions and inspired them with courage. God stirred their heart, mind, and inclinations."
I'm definitely not a preacher, but I'm a remnant! And I'm stirred up! Now what? We have the ingredients as laid out in 2 Peter 1:3: "everything we need for life and godliness." Let us be stirred and "do the work". We must replicate through the power of God's Spirit! Lead us, Sovereign God!
"Consider your ways." In verse five, "the great God speaks; hearken. Ponder well the course taken and the success and how you have succeeded...how fruitless your labor has been." Verse six: "you have sown much and brought in little, you eat and are empty, you drink and are thirsty, you are clothed and find no warmth and what you earn is put into a bag with holes." (sounds so familiar) In the article, it states that we as a church do not replicate. We are not growing. Why? A bag with holes? Worthless, heartless, works without the power of God?
God tells us again in verse seven. "Consider your ways." And in verse eight, God gives His people directions: Go...Bring wood....Build. The foundation of the temple was there but without the "superstructure, the power is omitted. And this very gracious promise revived an assurance that God will dwell and afford His presence". "I will!" says God. I will!"
In verse eleven, God calls for a drought. This is very important for us to get into our brains! God is sovereign over ALL things!! We must not mourn when it oppresses us nor should we forget to be thankful when it delights us! We bow and worship! And that is what the political power, the priest and the people did. They obeyed the voice of the Lord, and God assured them: "I am with you!" This confirmation of God from Haggai, Mr. Poole writes, "contains all they can need or desire; it insureth God's presence is always with them and His assistance always to them and His blessing, always upon them. He will be always for, as well as always with them."
And lastly, (I sound like a preacher) "the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zeurbbabel, the governor, and the spirit of Joshua, son of the high priest and the spirit of the remnant of the people; and they came and did the work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God." Poole writes: "This is the first notable effect of God's presence...a sensible performance of His promise, God inclined their minds, fixed their resolutions and inspired them with courage. God stirred their heart, mind, and inclinations."
I'm definitely not a preacher, but I'm a remnant! And I'm stirred up! Now what? We have the ingredients as laid out in 2 Peter 1:3: "everything we need for life and godliness." Let us be stirred and "do the work". We must replicate through the power of God's Spirit! Lead us, Sovereign God!
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Sluggish Saints
Haggai, whose name means "a feast", was sent of God to awaken His people. The temple was suppose to be the work at hand, and it's rebuilding had been delayed. Matthew Poole describes the audience to whom Haggai was to speak: "through the covetousness of many, the coldness of some, and the cowardice of others among the Jews, who were all bent on their own private concern..." Also, he says, "and who in all probability would have deferred it much longer had they been let alone." My post today should be entitled "Ouch". It sounds way too much like the church today. But in all reality, when thinking about God's glory, even saying "ouch" is way too minimal a reaction to such an observance of our own neglect and laziness.
What are we, as Christians, learning about ourselves in this very short span of a wake-up call from God? One young woman observed, "We are spoiled." Why are we whining about inconvenience of quarantine when in reality we are "safe at home", she said. Poole writes, and we need to listen to this for ourselves: "...the Lord doth, in zeal for His own glory, and in mercy to His people, send His servant, Haggai to awaken them to their duty, which was this, the building of the temple and restoring the pure worship of God." As the young woman mentioned, "we are spoiled" and as Poole said, "all bent on their own private concern." We need to be thinking, praying and changing our views of God. We need to repent of sloth and meditate much on God and His glory! That is the purpose of the church: Worship. From that grows adoration, obedience and fruit.
Mr. Poole says that Haggai was sent to "awaken the drowsy Jews...who seemed to long for a temple when they were in Babylon." Are we seeking God more now than before? Is that not a wonderful effect of this virus? Will our desire continue after the quarantine is over and threat of life subsides a bit? We've seen it many times in the past, where conflict seems to bring some "God-talk" for a moment. The Jews in captivity longed to worship God again but when they were freed to go home, they delayed what should have been first priority. That, too, should cause us pain as Christians. "Ouch" is far too light an affliction. We should experience an intensely sick, nausea in the pit of our stomachs with guilt and regret as we discover how lifeless, indeed, are our spiritual lives.
Maybe it's just me that needs to constantly repent and call on God for change. But I truly want to learn through this trial, no matter how long it takes. I do not want to be the same whiny, selfish, and "spoiled" child after this is over. To be continued....
What are we, as Christians, learning about ourselves in this very short span of a wake-up call from God? One young woman observed, "We are spoiled." Why are we whining about inconvenience of quarantine when in reality we are "safe at home", she said. Poole writes, and we need to listen to this for ourselves: "...the Lord doth, in zeal for His own glory, and in mercy to His people, send His servant, Haggai to awaken them to their duty, which was this, the building of the temple and restoring the pure worship of God." As the young woman mentioned, "we are spoiled" and as Poole said, "all bent on their own private concern." We need to be thinking, praying and changing our views of God. We need to repent of sloth and meditate much on God and His glory! That is the purpose of the church: Worship. From that grows adoration, obedience and fruit.
Mr. Poole says that Haggai was sent to "awaken the drowsy Jews...who seemed to long for a temple when they were in Babylon." Are we seeking God more now than before? Is that not a wonderful effect of this virus? Will our desire continue after the quarantine is over and threat of life subsides a bit? We've seen it many times in the past, where conflict seems to bring some "God-talk" for a moment. The Jews in captivity longed to worship God again but when they were freed to go home, they delayed what should have been first priority. That, too, should cause us pain as Christians. "Ouch" is far too light an affliction. We should experience an intensely sick, nausea in the pit of our stomachs with guilt and regret as we discover how lifeless, indeed, are our spiritual lives.
Maybe it's just me that needs to constantly repent and call on God for change. But I truly want to learn through this trial, no matter how long it takes. I do not want to be the same whiny, selfish, and "spoiled" child after this is over. To be continued....
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