Build it! Daily Devotional -- December 18, 2009

Daily Bible Reading: Job 22, Haggai 1, 1 John 5

It is easy to look around us and see our own needs and desires because we are reminded of them daily. Every day when I walk in my kitchen and have to find creative ways to heat up leftovers, I am reminded that we need to get a microwave. When I look around my apartment and think about having another child, it is easy to start counting the cost of a bigger place! It is not a bad thing to take care of the needs of our own house, as long as we are also taking care of God’s house.

Many people moved here from different parts of the nation to build Urban Church. For most of us, it was not a flippant move but a calling from God. There are also many who did not move here, but felt led to be a part of Urban for various reasons. Whether you moved here or already lived here and decided to be a part, it is no accident or coincidence. God has called you to build this house for a reason.

This passage in Haggai could have been written in our modern day. The people were concerned about their own house but were neglecting the house of God. (vs. 3) "Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"

In turn, they were experiencing a lack of harvest and provision: (vs. 10) "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops."

When their focus became too much on their own house and not enough on God’s house, the blessing of the Lord was not on their increase and provision. God doesn’t just command them to bring more financial provision into the house of God but He also calls them to physically go grab timber and start building! (Vs. 8) "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD."

If you believe that God has called you to help build Urban, then we must consider this question. What if he meant exactly what he said–BUILD Urban?! BUILD IT! Build it financially and build it physically. Go grab some timber and start building (eh-hem, set-up and tear down?)! Or simply finding an area of ministry to serve in.

We must not become so concerned with building our house that we forget that we are also called to build the Lord’s house as well. This Christmas don’t just simply focus on your own house–but consider--what can you do to build the Lord’s house?

Will you take the next 3 minutes and pray about what you could do or give to help build God's house? Will you wait on the Lord and commit to giving what the Holy Spirit puts on your heart?

Thanks for reading,

Mel

Tomorrow's reading: Job 23-24, Zechariah 1, 2 John 1, 3 John 1