Haggai chp. 1

the book of haggai is a funny place to start.  it is funny to me, b/c it is relatively obscure, and b/c it has been used and talked about in "my world" for about 2 years now.  francis chan out in california did a sermon series on this book a couple of years ago, then a small group (home bible study group) that i am part of did a study on the book, then the pastor where i was attending did a message series on the book...so this relatively obscure book in the old testament, is one that you might say i have read a couple of times!  but it's impact is still huge... some thoughts...

so, God is going to speak through haggai.  and apparently he isnt too pleased with some of their actions.  "these people say, 'the time has not yet come for the Lord's house to be built.'"  when the Lord speaks through a prophet and He starts off with an accusation...not good.  he continues, "is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"  ok!  who doesnt think that God gets sarcasm?  seriously??? i think this is speaking to the desire within us who are selfish.  you know that feeling, the one of knowing what is right...but not choosing what is right.  and we can justify it, manage it, rationalize it, explain it and defend it....then the Lord comes and just blows it up with a little sarcasm.   

then the next two paragraphs are similar...and i dont know what they say, except the one thing i know they say.  "give careful thoughts to your ways..."  a little wisdom for us.  the ways i choose matter, so i should give careful thoughts to them.  God goes onto tell the people who really is in control and there is this line at the end of the next to the last paragraph..."and the people feared the Lord".  not like afraid of, but kind of.  more like reverence "feared"...but i think kind of afraid of too.  if the Lord had just peeled back your motives and you were caught living for yourself and not really caring about him...and he explains that he controls everything...i would be afraid!  maybe he is telling me that!  proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...maybe for us to fear the Lord, he has to show us some things, ask us some questions, subtly strike some fear into us.  so that we get on with the plan...the last paragraph says 23 days after this story started, the people started to work on the house of the Lord.  

what do you need to start?  what in this chapter speaks to you?  there is more i COULD have done...but this, today is a start for me.  have a great day!