SWHW Bible Reading Plan: October 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Joni Stepp:

The short prophetic book of Haggai packs such a punch for heavy hitting truth.

Haggai has come to the people of Israel who have returned from exile to their home land to rebuild the temple of God. He finds them beautifying their own houses before even working on the temple.

He gives command from the Lord to correct their priorities.

Then a couple months later, he returns as they are working on the temple of the Lord and reminds them that if they have unclean hearts, then they have unclean hands working to rebuild the temple.  And that doesn’t honor what God has commanded of them.

“Then Haggai answered and said ‘so is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord.”  Haggai 2:14-15

Haggai speaking from the Lord to the people, reminded them wrong motives, impure hearts, and delayed obedience do not please the Lord regardless of the outward appearance.

Ouch.

This means it doesn’t matter what ministry I build, how much I teach, or what I lead-- if my heart is unclean or I am not obeying the Lord, it’s “unclean.”  It’s not what He is after.

Bottom line: 

Our priorities are important.
Our obedience is more important.

Just doing the work of God isn’t ultimately all He’s after. He wants our pure hearts and clean hands doing what He asked of us.

Father, give us pure hearts and clean hands to do the work You’ve called us to do. Help us remember our hearts' motives and our obedience is what You are after. We love You. Amen.