Sorting things out

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.  – Matthew 5.23-24

Let’s just suppose you have had a row with a Christian friend in the last couple of days. Let’s also suppose that the situation has not been settled. Things are still simmering and uncomfortable and just not right.

To keep supposing let’s just suppose it is time for church and everybody is getting ready to go to church where we hope to glorify God and encourage and build each other up.

There is a problem here. Jesus was talking about offering a sacrifice, but I don’t think it is a stretch to imagine that going to church is about the same situation.

We read about the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. The letter of the law is very specific here, but the spirit of the law speaks to us. The principle is that we can’t be right with God unless we are right with our brethren.

Preacher Watson was one of the early mentors in my Christian life. He often used a phrase ‘keep short accounts with God.’ That still sticks in my mind some forty years on. How true it is that when we sin we need to deal with it, confess it, and repent before time passes. I think we need to add to that ‘keep short accounts with each other.’

‘Love God and love others’ go hand in hand.’ We can’t have one without the other. Before we can worship God we must make things right with each other. 

A new definition of murder

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.  – Matthew 5.21-22

It is a really, really good thing that Jesus fulfilled the Law. The Law seems like a lot of outside does and don’ts, and it is. We could not even do the visible things required.  Now Jesus makes it clear that obeying and fulfilling the is much more than just doing – it is a way of being. It is not enough to just keep the Law – it must be kept from the heart.

The first illustration Jesus uses to teach this lesson is to define murder. Everyone knew ‘you shall not kill.’ That was obvious.

Jesus must have shocked them when He said that was not enough. Not only can you not kill anyone, but if you hate someone it is the same things as committing murder.

How can that be? How is it just as bad if I keep it in my heart?

Because all sin starts in the heart I can’t afford to allow hate to take root in my life. If hate goes unchecked eventually it will show itself in my life. Other places in scripture tell us that it is impossible to love God and hate our brother.

Hate is totally incompatible with citizens of the Kingdom, even while living in a world that is going to hate us. We must deal with any semblance of hate in our hearts. 

Jesus and the Law

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. – Matthew 5.17-18

When I read the Law and understand that keeping this law is God’s standard for human perfection I could get overwhelmed and confused and perplexed. Then I read that if I fail in any point of the Law I fail in it all. I can see why people would have wondered what they were possibly supposed to do with the Law. How are we supposed to do it? What hope is there for any of us?

Jesus comes along to bring the message of grace, but then He says that He didn’t come to destroy the Law because until the end of time not the most seemingly insignificant aspect of the Law is going to pass away. It is not going anywhere.

But Jesus said something special about the Law. He is not coming to wipe it out, but to fulfil it.

There is no way you or I could fulfil the Law, only the perfect Man, the Second Adam, could do that because all have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect glory. The cost of that failure is eternal separation from God.

So if we could not fulfil and satisfy the Law we would have no hope – and that is why Christ came. He came to satisfy the demands of the Law. The Law shows us how much we need Christ, and he satisfies the Law for us when we accept Him. 

This little light of mine

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 5.14-16

Salt and light are to wonderful images to portray our behaviour in this world. We are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world. Chuck Swindoll used to say that we are to shake the salt and shine the light on the world that it rotting away and walking in darkness.

We saw yesterday the importance of keeping our lives salty. Today we are going to look at how important it is to keep our lights shining brightly. There was a day, not that long ago, when there was a bit more light in the world. Christians and Christendom had an impact on society in the west. It seems now though that we are going through another spell of darkness. Christendom’s glimmer of light is fading, and too often the true Light of Christ is not stepping in to fill the gap.

In some countries true Christian impact on society is virtually non-existent. Some societies even have anti-Christian laws and this seems to be growing almost daily. The darkness is deep, and getting deeper.

But, on the other hand, that gives us the opportunity to shine our light even brighter. Jesus tells us that now is not the time to keep the light of Christ hidden. We don’t cover it; we let it shine to light up this dark old world.

A lot of folks don’t like children’s songs or choruses. They seem to be too simple and not theologically deep enough. But sometimes they just say it like it is. ‘Jesus loves me this I know’ is pretty solid theology.

So is, if sung by Christian kids, ‘this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.’

We let our lights shine so that others see our good works, not to honour us, but to glorify God. Our whole purpose is to bring glory to Him so that others are drawn to Him.

‘Let it shine till Jesus comes, I’m gonna let it shine.’ 

Worthless salt

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  – Matthew 5.13

For a good part of my life I would read this verse and try to make it make sense. Of course, I knew what it said and I knew the point, but I would ask myself how can salt lose its saltiness. It’s salt, how does it become unsalt?

I finally got it when I read a book simply titled ‘Salt.’ It was all about, well, salt. It was about the history and importance of salt and the impact it has had on the world. It was about the uses for salt and the processes in getting it to our table. It turns about that what I think of as salt is not what Jesus was talking about. Our table salt is indeed just salt, but the salt that Jesus talked about was impure and mixed with all kinds of compounds. It was, we might say, dirty. It wasn’t that big a deal because it was mostly used to preserving and curing.

What happened was that if piles of this salt were left out in the rain the rain would leech the real salt away leaving on the ‘dirt.’ What was left, when the salt was gone, was worth nothing but to be thrown out and returned to the earth.

When we understand this it really helps us to see the importance of keeping our saltiness in this world today. Once we stop shaking our salt and once we become like the world and once we stop flavouring and seasoning the world around us we are worthless. We don’t reach this world by becoming like it. We are to season the world with the gospel though our changed lives. We are to strive to preserve the world from the rot of sin by being salt to our friends and neighbours and co-workers. If we lose our saltiness we really are going to be worthless witnesses.

Give me the power Lord to shake the salt on this rotting world. 

Blessed persecution

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. – Matthew 5.10-12

Part of the problem we face is that no matter what we try to do living in this present world the world is not going to like us. The more different we are the more looked down on we will be. Some will respond to our meekness and poverty of spirit and our purity of live and our peace-making and our mercy. Sadly though most will not. Most won’t like of message because they didn’t like Christ in the first place. Most would rather have their sin than admit their depravity and weakness.

Those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution – that’s clear. The question is how we are going to deal with it. But here is the way of the blessed – when you are reviled and evil spoken of and persecuted for Jesus sake – we rejoice. It has happened before and we can rest in the fact that we can rely on a greater reward in heaven.

When attacked we don’t respond in kind – we love our attackers. We love our enemies. We love those who persecute us. We count it as a blessing. We make a difference by the way we deal with opposition.

If we focus on us during our troubles we will fail – lets focus on His blessings instead. 

Blessed behaviour

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. – Matthew 5.7-9

Not only is there blessing in attitude, but there is also a blessed behaviour as we try to survive and thrive as part of the Kingdom in a world which is not a part of the Kingdom.

Blessed are those who show mercy

Blessed are the pure hearted

Blessed are those who strive to make peace

Just think what a difference we would make in this world if we represented the Kingdom by such behaviour. Imagine if people knew Christians, not because they were harsh and mean and judgemental and hard to get along with but they knew as people who showed mercy to those who don’t like us or live like us or don’t behave like us. Imagine if we were only motivated by the purist of motives instead of our own agendas. Imagine if we in every situation we were the ones who strove to bring about a peaceful resolution.

How do you think they would respond? What difference could we make?

I don’t know for sure, but if we are walking in obedience to our King we can count on the fact that we will have the blessing of knowing that we are pleasing him.  

A blessed attitude

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  – Matthew 5.3-5

One of the great passages of Jesus’ teaching is what we can the ‘Sermon on the Mount.’ In this message Jesus instructs His people how to live in His kingdom while still in this earthly realm. It is a hard concept to grasp, but it is the same thing that Peter talks about when he tells the believers in exile to live as pilgrims and strangers.

We are to be His ambassadors in this world and that is a good part of what the Sermon deals with.

At the very beginning He gives us the key to blessings. I put them in three sections; a blessed spirit, blessed behaviour, and blessed under trials.

In this first section Jesus says blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, and blessed are the meek.

I think these sort of lay the foundation. If we don’t realise our weakness of spirit and if we don’t mourn over our sin and if we don’t have a meek and gentle spirit toward God’s leadership nothing else in the rest of the sermon is going to be possible. We need the right heart.

As we start this look at Kingdom living – let’s start with the right kind of spirit. 

Man shall not live by bread alone

We Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. – Matthew 4.1-4

Pretty early on in Jesus’ ministry He went into the desert to fast and pray. That alone sets down an example that is worth our consideration, but I am going to move on a bit today.

After 40 days Satan was permitted to come and test Jesus. Satan took Jesus up on a mountain and said ‘if you are the Son of God speak to these stones and turn them into bread.

Jesus’ response sets a pattern for the other tests to come and a pattern for how we should deal with our own tests. Jesus said ‘man doesn’t live by his physical needs only.’

Everything in our lives is a battle between the flesh and the spirit. They war against each other. Our desire for ‘bread’ and anything else physical is constantly screaming out to us.

Jesus refuted Satan’s temptation by pointing out that there is more to life than just bread. There is the word of God that truly gives life. We ought to desire the word of God more than any physical desire. As long as physical things control us we will never obey the word of God. If we seek God and His righteousness, on the other hand, everything other need will be met. 

Of the Holy Spirit

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  – Matthew 1.20-21

Imagine what it must have been like to be Joseph. Everything was going well. We had a lovely young betrothed wife. He had a decent job. Everything was falling into place for a good life.

Then, out of nowhere an angel appears. Okay, that’s a bit unusual, but then the angel speaks: ‘Don’t be afraid. Your betrothed wife is indeed going to have a baby. But this is the work of the Holy Spirit.’

This was a big ask. Trust that Mary’s pregnancy is the work of the Holy Spirit and obey me by taking her as your wife and treating the baby and your son. Call Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.

But Joseph did it. That challenges my own heart. How many times does God ask us to trust the work of the Holy Spirit is situations that make no sense to us? I don’t know about anyone else, but that is a common occurrence. It doesn’t appear that Joseph balked – he just did it.

When God asks us to do the impossible or trust Him in impossible situations or be faithful is situations that seem to be difficult are we willing to trust what He says and obey Him? Or do we rely on our own logic and reasoning and insist on our way.

Lord, I need Joseph’s faith. Help me to remember that God is at work in my life just as He was in Joseph’s. Help me to trust and obey. 

Healing in His wings

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. – Malachi 4.2-4

One of the last prophecies in the Old Testament is that the Sun of Righteousness would rise with ‘healing in His wings.’ It goes on the say that He will ‘tread down the wicked’ in His time.

It is the idea of healing, of course, that blesses me. This is so special because the residents of a broken world certainly need healing.  Sin’s curse has infected the world with the most terrible plague possible. It is has a 100% infection rate and it is 100% fatal. Man has no cure. The Law always fell short of curing sin.

But Messiah will come with healing in His wings. He has the only cure for sin. God loved the world so much that He gave the world is only Son that whoever believes will not perish from the curse of sin but have eternal life. It is by His stripes on the cross that He can bring healing.

Four hundred silent years are coming for Israel, but healing is on its way. 

Spoke often to each other

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. – Malachi 3.16-18

I love this. Here in Malachi there is a general indictment of the nation for their lethargy and lackadaisical spirit. Hey have forgotten about the reality of God in their lives. The end of prophecy was on the horizon.

And yet, here in all this, there were some who still feared the Lord. These who still feared the Lord spoke often to each other and thought about God and remembered Him and God wrote down their names in a ‘book of remembrance.’ God said ‘these people are mine. I will spare them, and when Messiah comes He will discern between them and those who do not follow God.

I need this right now. I need to remember that no matter what we are facing or how bad it gets or how many unfaithful there are that there still remains a small remnant. It is vital that those of us who strive to stay true speak often to each other to encourage and build each other up.

Wow. I don’t know if God still keeps a ‘book of remembrance’ for those who keep fearing God or not, but I do know that He still knows our hearts and we can be assured that we are His no matter what is going on on the outside.

Let’s be sure that we keep thinking on God and His goodness and who He is and  speaking often to each other as all around us seems to crumble. 

Why bother?

Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? – Malachi 3.14

Why bother serving God? It’s done nothing for me. Why have I deprived myself for Him? I need to live the way I want to live. So why bother?

Apparently this attitude is not modern. It goes way back. In the flesh it can seem almost logical. I try to do right and live for God and love and care for others. I skip the parties and the drunkenness and worldly pursuits to chase God instead and what good does it do. I might as well just eat, drink, and be merry.

It’s one of those many things that happens when we focus on the flesh and not the spirit, on the seen and not the unseen, and on the temporal and not the eternal. If all we looked at is what we can see most of us are going to get discouraged. We could even be tempted just to give up.

That’s why need to always look beyond the obvious. God is working for eternity. We can’t always see it. We need the faith to know that it is not vain to serve Him. It is not profitless to live for Him.

Just keep our eyes in eternity. 

I change not

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. – Malachi 3.6

While Malachi has a lot of statements about the state of the people, it has several wonderful things to say about God. I think one of the greatest blessing of the attributes of God is His immutability – His unchangeableness – the fact that He does not change.

Why is this such a big deal? It means the God I serve today is the exact same God who said ‘let there be light’ and then there was light. He is the same God who parted the Red Sea. He is the same God who fed 5000 from a boy’s lunch. He is the same God who healed the sick and made the lame whole and raised the dead. He is the same God who has provided for and cared to me all my life. He is the same God who has carried me through every trial of life. He is the Lord. He does not change. Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Since that is the case how can I fear the present or the future? Is He all of a sudden going to fail me?

No, He is the Lord. He will not change. I can trust Him to care for me today and in the future just like He has cared for me all along. 

Wearying God

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? – Malachi 2.17

‘God is tired of your words.’ That’s what Malachi said to the people. ‘Why is He tired of our words?’ ‘Because you have swallowed the line that evil and good don’t make any difference to God.’

The faith of Judah had collapsed. They no longer really believed God. Their religion acted like you could just do whatever you want and God would do nothing about.

These people we taking advantage of God and His patience. God is being slow to anger – and everything thinks that it means He is not going to judge. When that happens we can lose the motivation to do right.

The issue, like so often is motivation. If I am only doing good because I don’t want God to ‘get me’ than I am doing it all wrong. My motivation to do right ought to be because of who He is and because it is right.

I hope we don’t serve God just because there is evil out there that we don’t see Him dealing with. God is working and He will work. I need to trust Him enough to believe that and keep on serving and stop wearying Him with our behaviour. 

Polluted bread

Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. – Malachi 1.7-8

Another big problem here at the end of the Old Testament is what the Lord called ‘polluted bread.’ The idea is that the people were not offering their best on the altar. It was their second best or worse. It was the kind of offering they would not even offer the governor, but they were trying to offer it to God.

Not giving God our best goes way back to Cain and Able. We read that while Cain brought some of his crops for an offering Able brought the best, the first-fruits of his livestock.

The Law warned against offering improper offerings. God deserves and expects the best. What really drives the point home is that they would take things they wouldn’t think of offering the government officials and offering them to God.

How does this apply to us today? I think there is an obvious application. Do we give God our best? Do we give Him the best of our resources? Do we give God the best of our time? Where is he on our priority list? Can we pay for the cinema or a nice date and not give to God’s work? Can we make it work on time at 8.00 and not make it to church on time at 11.00? Do we have time for the rugby, but not for Bible study? Are we ready to talk about politics but not about the Lord?

We need see what we are giving God. Or is it nothing better than polluted bread.? 

How have you loved me?

I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,  - Malachi 1.2

Malachi was the last prophet we hear from before the coming of John the Baptist. As we leave the Old Testament we see that Israel is still in bad shape. She still has sin she needs to deal with. She is still not right with God. Malachi is a litany of the problems that needed to be dealt with.

At the very start God says ‘I have loved you.’ Fair enough. But what do the people say? ‘How have You loved us?’

What a terrible thing to say, isn’t it? God says ‘I love you’ and His people say ‘how?’

When you put it in black and white it seems so clear. But I think there is a way that a lot of us do the same thing in our everyday lives and actions. We know that God is love. We know He loves us. We know that He is good. He tells us that He loves us and that we should trust Him in every situation.

But then, what happens when that is put to the test. Do we act like He loves us or do we panic and despair? I say God loves me, but do I practice it? If He loves me and He is good and He cares and He is all powerful isn’t He able to deal with whatever I face?

Of course He is. It is a slap in the face of God when I doubt His love by not trusting Him to care for me. 

By my Spirit

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. – Zechariah 4.6

This verse is in the same context as the passage we saw yesterday about despising small things. It reminds us that God can use the little things just like the big things. He is not bound by our abilities because He does not work by our might or our power. He works by something that is not bound by any human limitations.

‘By my Spirit’ says the Lord. ‘By His Spirit’ is the key any success we will have. ‘By His Spirit’ is the way to get thing done. ‘By His Spirit’ is the key to any victory.

It can be discouraging to face the world we face today. In places like Ireland our numbers are few and our powers are limited. It is a cold dark land. But it is not our strength or ability. The Lord can save by many or by few because He works through His almighty Spirit. 

Small things

Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. – Haggai 2.3-5

For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.  – Zechariah 4.10

This is a sad scene. Everyone got together and got the work done and the Temple was built. The young men were overjoyed and elated that the Temple was built. How exciting!

But there was a damper on their fervour. While the young men we excited about the Temple the old men, many of whom could remember Solomon’s Temple, despised it. ‘In my day the Temple was huge and opulent. This Temple is nothing in comparison. What are you so excited about it.’ There were tears of joy among the young and tears of sorrow among the older men.’ And no one could tell the difference.

The point here is made by Zechariah later in his prophecy. He told the older men not to despise the day of small things. This wasn’t the old Temple. It wasn’t going to be. What we see happening in the church today isn’t the same thing the church saw in the day of great revivals. Especially here we function in the world of ‘small things’ in the eyes of the world.

We need to be careful to honour God just as much in the small things as in the big things. The little things and the big things are only in our eyes. That comes from looking at the externals. We never know how God is working in the unseen.

The Temple that had just been built was going to be the Temple where Jesus would minister. It was small in man’s eyes but big in God’s eyes. Many of us minister in small ways and small churches and small ministries. Don’t despise them. God is not limited by size as long as we are faithful. God is with us in the small things. 

They came and they worked and...

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, - Haggai 1.12-14

Go called them to work. The message was clear – ‘you are stuck in your lethargy until you do something about doing God’s work.’

So then everyone responded. The government officials came. The religious leaders came. Indeed, all the people came.  Their spirits were stirred and they came and did the work.

The great blessing here is what happened when they did come. When they all come ready to get started God gave them the greatest promise possible – ‘I am with you’ God said.

This is something we read all the time. We read it so much in fact that it can seem to be hold hat. When we decide to do what God wants us to do we can be assured that God is going to be with us.  We may not always sense that God is with us. Sometimes we may feel all alone, but His word tells is today that He is with us always.

Do I have the faith to move forward serving Him when I feel like I am struggling alone?

God’s promise is as real today as it was when Haggai spoke of God’s abiding. Help me Lord to depend on Your presence. The help me get to work. 

Build the house

Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. – Haggai 1.8-10

Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house; and I will be glorified. God’s answer to the dilemma was to just get to work. God told them that blessings were being withheld from them was because they were totally neglecting His work.  Their focus was all on them and not on God. Their hearts and minds were on earthly things, not heavenly. The looked at the seen, not the unseen. They walked by sight, not faith.

But God has the solution – just get back at it. Get up and get back to work. I think we all go through times when we get down and discouraged and we might even pull back from God and focus on us. Once we get there it can be hard to get back on track, but the longer we go the harder it is to get back at the work.

All of us have jobs we need to do but have been putting off. Sometimes there are things we just don’t want to do. Sometimes it is just laziness or lethargy. Either way there is only one solution – get to work. 

You have sown much

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. – Haggai 1.6-7

The people must have been frustrated. While they ignored God’s work they were all  about sowing and eating and drinking and clothing themselves and earning their wages.

But they were still hungry and thirsty and cold and the more they earned the more their wages fled like they had holes in their pockets. They were spinning their wheels and getting nowhere.

They couldn’t figure it out. Why were they working so hard and getting so little? God doesn’t answer their question right away, but instead Haggai repeats the instruction – ‘consider your ways.’

Just think about it.

These folks had wrong priorities. They were never satisfied with all their worldly pursuits. I think the key behind all of this is a lack of contentment. God tells us that the key to having enough is ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything will be added to us.

Israel needed to learn this lesson. Sadly, so do we. 

Consider your ways

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. – Haggai 1.2-5

As the book of Haggai opens we see a nation that had fallen into complacency and spiritual lethargy. God had told them to go back to Jerusalem and build a temple for God. They laid the foundation, but opposition had risen and they had given into fear and eventually quit the work. Fourteen years had passed, and the work still lay undone.

The problem they had was, and the problem we can have as well, is one of mixed up priorities. God’s work needed to be done but fear had won the day. Then, as time passed, I am sure it got easier and easier to just leave it. ‘Ah sure, we get back to that next week. It’s not really time to do God’s work. We have more important things to do.

All the while they were taking care of themselves and improving their homes and panelling their walls. All this happened and the ruins of the foundations of the Temple ‘lie waste.’

So God said to them ‘consider your ways.’ Think about what you are doing. Look at your priorities. What is really important to you?

God may very well ask the same of you and me today. What are we doing? Where are our priorities? What matters to us? Is it us or is it God? Are you and I willing to stop and honestly consider our own ways or are content to just let things carry on as they are? 

When God sings

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. – Zephaniah 3.17

I first became aware of this a long, long time ago at a teacher training seminar by a man named Terry Hall. He did a one day class on how to teach the Bible as a package to see the unity of the word of God. The thing that sticks out the most these thirty years later is this beautiful verse that tells us about God’s singing.

Even in the midst of Zephaniah’s sin and complacency God gives them words of encouragement. After talking about seeking God with meekness we hear find out how He feels about His people.

Even when they were lazing around God wanted to call them back. He was still mighty, He would still save them if they turned to Him, He would rejoice over them in His joy, he would rest in His love.

We could take days to talk about all these things, but it is the last thing that really grabs me. ‘He will joy over you with singing!’

God sings a song of joy over His people. I can’t imagine what it would be to hear God sing.

And just a quick little thought to close – if God sings with joy over us what does that say about how we should rejoice over Him? 

With meekness

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.  – Zephaniah 2.3

Meekness is not a trait we hear a lot about today. In this self-absorbed and self-obsessed world virtues that are admired tend to be strength and forwardness and being our front and boldness and self-assurance and even pushiness.

But meekness? Not so much. Meekness is seen as weakness and being less of ‘a man’ and being soft and wimpy. Meekness is mocked in a world that says there is not even such a thing as right and wrong.

God, on the other hand, places a high value on meekness. The meek, after all, are going to inherit the earth. Moses was praised for his meekness, as was Christ Himself.

Zephaniah told the people to seek the Lord with meek spirits. He went to tell them to seek that meekness in their lives. It is too easy to turn to God and seek Him with an ‘I’m sorry God, but…’ attitude. When we confess our sin and repent and turn to Him there is no attitude but a meek and humble and contrite spirit.

God says in Isaiah that He is the ‘high and lofty One’ who inhabits eternity. He also says there that He dwells with those of a humble and contrite spirit.

When we sin and wander and turn away from our God it is good to know that He has not gone anywhere. He is ready receive us when we come to Him in meekness and humility.

Settled on their lees

And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. – Zephaniah 1.12

One of the greatest dangers for God’s people is something that can seem so minor. What could be so bad if we are not openly in rebellion or is some kind of obvious sin?

Well, there is no doubt that that is bad and not pleasing to God. But just as bad and surely a lot more common is the spirit of complacency that Zephaniah talks about here. This phrase ‘settled on their lees’ is a translated ‘complacency’ in newer translations, but I love this picture. The ‘lees’ were the muck that is left over in a vat of wine after the wine is poured off. It is sticky and icky. The people were stuck in the lees, or as we might say today, stuck in the mud. God was not important to them. They lived in such a way that their lives said ‘as sure, it’s grand, God’s not going to anything about it’

This kind of attitude is dangerous because, unchecked, it will only lead to something worse.

We have just entered a new year. It is always a good time to stop and reflect and examine our lives and our goals and priorities. It might also be a good time to look at our lives and to see if we are ‘settled on our lees’ in complacency.  Instead of being stuck in the mud we ought to be striving to ‘press toward the mark’ of the high calling of serving God in this still new year. 

My strength

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. - Habakkuk 3:17-19

At the end of the book of Habakkuk things are not really any better in man’s sight. He has already acknowledged that God is in His holy temple. Now he takes the bolder step of applying what Paul would say to the Corinthians a thousand years later.

Don’t look at what you can see, but what you can’t see. The things you can see are temporary; the things you can’t see are eternal.

The visible things of the day were the fig trees and fruits and olive trees and crops and flocks and herds. They all may fail.

The invisible truth is this: the Lord God is my strength. I will rejoice in that no matter what I see. I don’t need to rely on my own strengths or abilities or knowledge or wisdom or skills. They would all fail anyway.

I can however depend on my strength to lift me up above the mess and to secure my steps as I go through this broken old world.

Even when my figs trees don’t blossom and vines don’t bear fruit and the fields are empty and it seems like there is there is no hope God will still be my strength to carry me on. 

The Lord is in His holy temple

But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.  – Habakkuk 2.20

We get to see now how Habakkuk could say the things he did. He had a deep, pure, total abiding faith that God had it all covered, even if he couldn’t understand it.

The Lord is in His holy temple – be quiet and let Him work.

God is in control.

Some might call that a cop out. In fact many have. No matter what the bad news we are to trust that God has it covered. No matter what we see it’s okay because God in in His holy temple.  That sounds like an easy way to feel good about the bad and ignore reality.

I see it differently. If I believe in a God who is All-knowing, All-good, All-wise, All-powerful, All-love, All-good, eternal, and everywhere at once who transcends time and space for whom nothing is impossible it only makes sense that I would believe that He can sort this out. Either I believe Him or I don’t. There is no half-way.

The world is a broken place, terribly broken. Sin has broken that perfect relationship with God. Man suffers the consequences of his sin and the world groans under its weight.

But God is still there. He can handle all that is going on a lot better than I can. I will choose to trust Him. 

I'm just gonna sit here and watch

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. – Habakkuk 2.1

There is a lot of waiting around to see what God is going to do among the prophets. Just a couple of days ago we read about waiting on God, but I like the way Habakkuk puts it. You can almost sense a little bit of attitude.

‘You know what? I can’t figure this out. I know God can’t bear evil and yet evil is rampant. I don’t understand how God can use the really evil Chaldeans to punish the less evil Judah. So I am just going to stop and watch and wait for an answer.’

I have to say that I admire that kind of spirit. I have said before that there are things about the future that make ne anxious. After all these years I can still fret and worry about things I have no control over.

When I can’t see an answer, indeed, when we can’t see an answer there is something we can do.

We can get over ourselves, sit back, and watch to see what God is going to do. That’s not my cuppa tea, but I know that it is the thing to do. Do what we can. Then watch, wait, and rely on God and who He is. 

Purer eyes

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? – Habakkuk 1.13

Habakkuk was confused. He could not understand how the evil in Israel could keep going on.

Part of the confusion on Habakkuk’s mind was that he really knew God. He knew God’s character and what he saw here seemed out to character for what he knew about Him. In his mind he wondered how God could allow the sin. He wondered here how the Chaldeans could be used to punish Judah, who, with all their problems, were not near as bad.

We are going to learn that God has a purpose, but the key for now is that Habakkuk was right. God is so holy that He can’t tolerate evil. When we live in a world where evil seems to reign that can be hard to see and understand. How can this keep going on?

But then we have to remember that the Lord is slow to anger. He is patient. He will judge evil but it will be in His way and in His time so that people have a chance to turn to Him. 

The Lord is good

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. – Nahum 1.7

I know some people don’t believe we should have a favourite verse. I guess I can see the point. All of God’s word in equally true and equally inspired.

That’s true – but there are passages that we draw special inspiration from at times and that the Lord seems to use on a regular basis to encourage us.

Nahum 1.7 is that way for me. It has three great reminders all packed together in one short verse.

The Lord is good

The Lord is a stronghold when things get bad

The Lord knows those who put their trust in Him

These three things give us great hope during the ‘day of trouble.’ That ‘day of trouble’ is either here or not too far away. The wonderful news during that day of trouble is very simply that we have a good God and our good God knows us and that we are in that trouble.

There are some things that tempt be to fret or worry because I can’t see a good answer. I get bad news at times and I don’t know how to respond.

But I can know this. No matter what happens God is still good. God is my stronghold. And, as the psalmist says, God has searched me, and He knows.