Consider Your Ways

Thank God for the prophet Haggai. Here was a man of God living in victory, someone who had the mind of God, who walked in grace, and who had heaven open to him. He came to the site of the unfinished temple in Jerusalem and gave Zerubbabel and Joshua this warning: “‘Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!’” (Haggai 1:4-5, NKJV).

This was a call to quit focusing on self, not only self-comfort but also self-despair. Haggai was saying, “Forget the past! It’s time to rise up out of your lethargy. In spite of all your sinning, God wants you to take up his work where you left off. Now, pick up your instruments of labor and regain your confidence in the Lord. Go back to your secret closet of prayer, back to trusting God. Soon you’ll hear his voice again!”

Scripture says, “So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel…and the spirit of Joshua…and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God” (Haggai 1:14). Then God gave them this promise: “Consider now from this day forward…from this day I will bless you” (Haggai 2:18-19).

Zerubbabel and Joshua were once again walking in faith and righteousness. Now the prophet brought them the best word of all: God was going to take down the obstacle that nearly destroyed them. “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” (Zechariah 4:7).

Dearly beloved, this is what your present trial is all about. God is going to stir your heart once again, and you will see the completion of your call. The Holy Spirit is going to destroy every stronghold in your life, not through your strength but through his. You will finish the course, though, God has laid out before you. Like Z