I Will Bless You
Today’s Verse:
…From this day will I bless you. ~Haggai 2:19b
The word bless implies grace, approval, favor, increase, profit, success, and wellness. I don’t know anyone who does not want God’s blessings. However, we miss God’s blessings because we do not meet His conditions for blessings. The Jews had become apathetic and indifferent to finishing the construction needed on the temple. As a result, their crops and produce were meager and little. They found themselves spinning their wheels when it came to their personal desires. Despite all this, God wanted them to have His blessing. Let us see the conditions for God’s blessing.
God blesses deference.
“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" (1:8). Deference refers to submission or obedience. The people laid the foundation for God’s house, but the temple had not been built. They were commanded to go up to the mountain to bring wood and build the house of God. Zerubbabel and Joshua led the people in obeying the Lord. Obedience is a condition for answered prayer. Obedience is a condition for God’s blessings in every area of our life.
God blesses diligence.
“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” (2:4). Diligence is when we put effort into what we do. Solomon said, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Paul said that we should be "fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” Diligence is when we are energetic about what we do. No one likes to work around someone who lacks enthusiasm and energy. Apathy and lethargy suck the life and energy out of a process that is spirited.
God blesses disinfection.
“Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean" (2:14). The people had been serving God with dirty hands. They had become lackadaisical about their spiritual condition. As God’s people, we must seek the Lord for cleansing in our lives every day. Paul said that we must be a “vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use.” God will not use a dirty vessel. Doing the work of God with unclean hands is unacceptable labor.
God blesses dependence.
“According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not” (2:5). We must remember that apart from God’s power and presence in our lives, we can do nothing. Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing.” God told Zechariah, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” The Spirit of the Lord gives life and enablement. The Spirit’s power is the game changer in all that we do. Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way and in God’s power shall never lack for God’s blessing." God said, “From this day will I bless you.”
Have a blessed God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Ezekiel 34-36