DAY 37
DATE: 2/6/2013
Good Morning! My name is Holly Herrold and I was asked to give you a devotional thought from the book of Haggai chapter 1-2.
KEY VERSES: 1:5-7
5. Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6. 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. 7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.
REFLECTIONS: The temple was in ruins and the people were okay with that. Instead of being busy building the temple they were busy working on things that glorified and satisfied themselves. The things that were being done did not have lasting importance. The people worked so hard on accomplishing what they thought was important, and none of it was blessed or even prospered (or gained them anything). The Lord reveals that if they would just focus on Him and rebuilding his house, they would be blessed and their endeavors would prosper.
APPLICATION: I read a funny saying on Pinterest not too long ago: “Cleaning with kids in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreo’s!” That saying gave me a good laugh; because of the stage I am in, I can relate all too well. As I clean, the kids pull out more toys, want to paint, read books, eat chips (and we all know those make lots of crumbs), and the list goes on. So I am constantly cleaning but it is never as spic and span as I would likeJ. It is important to clean because God wants me to take care of what I have, but to clean constantly and never get anywhere is tiring and can consume my life. The people in the book of Haggai were working hard but it was never enough to “satisfy.” It seemed that all they did was futile. God had not blessed their endeavors because they had put Him second in their lives. They were consumed with what they thought was important, and not building God’s house and worshipping Him. They later learn that if they rebuild the temple God will bless their work.
I can become so consumed cleaning my house that I miss out on my children’s lives physically and spiritually. I need to stop focusing on temporal things and focus on what is eternal. My children are important, and pointing them to Christ is more important than cleaning. Just like the people in Haggai were giving second place to God and not being blessed, I believe the same is true when we give second place to our children – with work, our own worldly pleasures, etc. – so that our children will not be a blessing to us. (I am not saying children should come before God, just that cleaning shouldn’t come before childrenJ.) I hope to say one day, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” III John 1:4 Consider your ways, place your time and energy on things that are eternal, and be blessed!!
Thank you for being a part of the Route 66 Bible Reading Challenge. Thanks for reading, and you have a blessed day!
In Christ,
Holly
WHEN YOU GOT SAVED: 3rd grade
FAVORITE BIBLE BOOK: Ephesians and Philippians
FAMILY: Jeff (husband), Bella (5), Riley (3), Easton (8 months)
OCCUPATION: Wife and Mommy
MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT AT VBC: 4-6 grade Sunday School, Jr. Church, King’s Kids
DREAM VACATION: Week long spa tropical vacation J
HOBBIES: Baking