I thought about writing about Haggai, since we just finished discussing it in our youth group, but then God spoke to me in Zechariah 1:3.
Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Return to me," declares the LORD Almighty, "and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
That is possibly the greatest promise in the entire Bible. God will not reject you. God loves you.
As I read through Zechariah, I saw something completely different than pretty much everything I have read for the past month.
Up until this point, the prophets have all been speaking on behalf of God and declaring His impending (big word) punishment for their sins.
BUT... Zechariah is completely different. For the first time (in like 500 years), the Israelites are obeying God. And Zechariah is a book of God's blessings.
And it all changed in Haggai chapter 1. (Ok... I will talk a little about it) Haggai 1:14b says They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God...
For the first time in the Prophets, the people actually repented and followed God. (Ok maybe that's an exaggeration, but it sure seems like it) And God no longer punishes them. He blesses them.
And I have seen the same thing in my own life. Times when I am far from God and doing my own thing... God seems to let me just coast through life. But when I am close to Him and obeying Him and loving Him... God blesses me in countless ways.
DISCLAIMER: I think that if you read this post, you may get the wrong idea about God. God is not Santa Claus.
The difference between God and Santa Claus is that God gives us what we need... not what we want. People love Santa Claus because of his presents. They are "good" so that they can get more presents.
God is (should be) the opposite. I don't love God so that I can be blessed. I love God, because He loves me. There are benefits to loving God, but I would still love God if He never blessed me.
A lot of Christians (especially American Christians), love God for His stuff. The love the blessings. They are all about God's blessings. And to be honest, they really don't love God if all they care about is His stuff.
Imagine if I needed a million dollars and befriended Bill Gates. All I wanted from him was the money, so I was his friend until he gave me the money. After that, I could go back to my normal life.
That is how a lot of people approach God. The only want Him for His blessings.
If I only love God for His blessings, then I don't truly love Him.
That's why I choose to love God... with or without being blessed by Him.
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well the devil wants to tell me what brad q always told tommy whenever he missed a shot in basketball "you're a failure" ;)
ReplyDeletebecause i am so far behind that i think i'm just gonna finish jeremiah and then skip to the new testament. lol :-P !!
but i am not upset at myself for trying to read through the Bible with you in 90 days... if i read through the Bible in 6 months, or a year, that's still faster than what i would've on my own. i think it would be worse to give up and not even try.
props to you on almost finishing the whole OT! great work! i have to confess, i was a little skeptical that you would be able to undertake something like this by yourself... part of the reason i wanted to do it with you... but we see how much help i was, lol. i am glad you were able to stick with it regardless!
p.s. i love that verse... zechariah 1:3. that's the one thing that does discourage me... i am missing out on such great stuff! can't wait to catch up... even if it is long after the 90 days is over. what are you going to do next? i would love to read thru the Bible chronologically... when i finish, whenever that is.