DEVOTION

Theme: Build Your Temple 

Text: Haggai 1:2-9

2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?”

5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.

In the days of Haggai, the  Spirit of God dwelled in temples made by hands which the people couldn't put in right framework because their hearts yearns for earthly things than the Lord. Praise be to God, in our dispensation the Spirit of God dwells in our body which is His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16).

If your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then let's assess how well you're keeping it. How concerned are you with developing your relationship with God? The people said, the time has not come for the building of the Lord's temple. Do you often feel there are better things to think of than having time with God? If you're always giving God the secondary part of your life, you're definitely amongst those who are not building lasting relationships with God. What will it profit you to gain the whole and forfeit your soul? Dear friend, it's time to consider this seriously.

In considering your ways, analyze how life has been with you without putting God primarily. You work so hard but has nothing to show for it. You have much but yet still, it's as if you have nothing. That's emptiness because you're in fact empty without the Holy Spirit. A life devoid of Light is a life filled with total darkness where one stumbles and fall. God has everything under His control and He gives or withholds it from anyone He chooses to. It is for this reason, He made mentioned of it in the tenth and eleventh verses that; "10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”(Haggai 1:10-11).

If you destroy God's temple, God will destroy you. Keep in mind your body is now that temple which you must keep well. Flee from all earthly passions and put on the Holy Spirit and your fields will blossom well (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 5:18).

Prayer: Thank You Lord for making my body Your temple. Help me to build this temple according to Your own architectural designs so as to make it last until You return to take me home. In Jesus' name have I prayed. AMEN!