The Time Has Come! The Time is Now!

This morning as I read Haggai 1, I couldn't help but think about 'time'. We often think into the future, proposing what we will do or how we will live differently 'someday.' But that someday often doesn't come. Right now is the perfect time to work on those distant plans of the future. It's not possible with everything. We certainly need to save up for certain things or wait for the appropriate time for others. But, when it comes to a change in our spiritual lives, the time is now. I know we could all use a refreshing new start. As I look out the window at the fresh fallen snow, today is the perfect day to begin.

Readiness

² This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.’”

³ Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: ⁴ “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” ~Haggai 1:2-4

In these verses the prophet Haggai is calling the people to rebuild the Lords house, mentioning how they always say it's not the right time while they themselves build up their own homes. Similarly, we all often spend time on ourselves instead of spending time with the Lord. We say that we don't have time to spend in reading the Bible, yet we read our email or facebook statuses. We say that we don't have time to build our relationship with God, but we build up our professional careers.

We often complain that we're not ready for certain things, or that it's not the moment. Next time, I'll do this or that. Next year, I'll really appreciate things. Next semester, I won't let the stress get to me. Brad and I went for a walk through the snow last evening on Christmas night, and we met up with a neighbor. She cheerfully asked us how our Christmas was, and when we repeated the question, she stated, "Great! Well, I had cancer, so this was the best Christmas ever." How often we forget that now is the perfect time- to enjoy a wonderful Christmas, to rebuild the temple, to deepen our relationship with the Lord.

Reflection

⁵ Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁶ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

⁷ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁸ Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. ⁹ “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. ¹⁰Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. ¹¹ I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” ~Haggai 1:5-11

After readying ourselves to begin again in the now of today, we should also take time to reflect upon the word of the Lord. After all, we are instructed in this passage several times to "give careful thought to all [our] ways." We should consider how the Lord would have us live and what He would have us do. Perhaps there is a children's program that needs help or a neighbor who needs help shoveling their driveway.

Hidden in verses 5 and 6 is the answer. When we are working only for ourselves and our own needs, we fall short. We don't have as many blessings in our lives as we could when we extend a hand to those near us. It's counterintuitive, but it's true. Now is the time to try it out. Reflect on where God is calling you, help out, and see the difference in your life.

Recognition

¹² Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.

¹³ Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD. ¹⁴ So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, ¹⁵ on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month. ~Haggai 1:12-15

Again, as we noticed yesterday, we are not alone in all of this. We are given the assurance by the Lord that "I am with you." The Lord is by our side, helping us in the tasks and gifts and talents that He has given to us. We may find it difficult to overcome our shyness and help out in a new position. We may find it uncomfortable to do something a little different. We may find it downright hard to start a new schedule and keep an important place for Bible reading and prayer...but we know that God is with us.

Emmanuel- God with us! The most beautiful message of the Christmas season. Christ is with us, helping us, waiting for us to ready ourselves, reflect on what He is calling us to do, and recognize His power to change our lives.