Haggai 1:7,8 – “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.”
The Israelites faced a lot of ups and downs in the Old Testament. They were slaves in Egypt, obtained freedom and walked the wilderness for 40 years, and eventually entered the promised land. But they often turned away from God, and ended up getting captured by their enemies. When Haggai penned these verses, the Israelites were still under foreign rule, and the temple of God was in ruins.
The people had permission from the authorities to rebuild the temple of God. Yet, they chose to ignore God’s house and worked on their own homes instead. 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 reminds us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, we His people are His holy temple, His dwelling place. Are we taking efforts to build ourselves as the temple of God and glorify Him through it?
When we truly believe that the Almighty God dwells in our mortal bodies, we will take care of our bodies and minds for His glory. Take some time each day to build your soul with the Word of God, your mind through inspirational books/articles, and your body through healthy food, exercise and rest. Take every effort to keep your body, soul, and spirit holy and uncorrupted, remembering that it is God’s dwelling place.
