Mind of the Missionary
October 2020
“Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘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. ‘You expected it to be much, but see, it turned out to be little ….’”
(Haggai 1:7 – 8)
Last week, I was reading an article by Dr. Ronnie Floyd, SBC Executive Committee President. He started his article about the “deep and increasing burden” that God placed on his heart concerning our present situation in the United States about the state of our SBC churches, the fighting among Christians, and the division in our nation. He spoke of his needing to take time to pray and fast before the Lord to know how to speak to these issues. Upon finishing his time of prayer and fasting, the Lord led him into a time of personal repentance which included humility and brokenness. It was based on his reading of Haggai especially chapter one.
As I read through these same passages, I became moved, too, but maybe in a different way. Notice, how the Lord Almighty says, “Give careful thought to your ways.” Then, the Lord gives specific instructions to the people of Israel to rebuild the temple. After the exile in Babylon and Persia, the people returned all excited about the rebuilding of the temple, but opposition from neighboring nations discouraged them from finishing the project. God sent Haggai, the prophet, to remind them to “give careful thought to your ways” because the people didn’t hesitate building their houses of luxury and comfort, but they didn’t finish the main work which was the rebuilding of God’s temple. God, Himself, said, “build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored”.
During our strange times, this is the question that we must ask ourselves, “our we taking pleasure in the Lord’s house and honoring him?” This passage speaks to the perseverance of His people. Are we persevering during the coronavirus? Have we given up? Do we feel that worshipping indoors is impossible? Have we forgotten the importance of gathering together as a body of believers? Many of our PBA pastors have told me they feel that some of their members will NEVER return to the church building. Don’t get me wrong, I know that the church is the people. I know some of you are high risk… BUT, the church is not the church unless it gathers together somewhere, sometime, and somehow. Watching worship on your TV, I-phone, or I-pad just doesn’t get it.
Brothers and Sisters, it is time to persevere. It is time to move forward and do the work of the Lord. In Haggai chapter 2, the word of the Lord came to Haggai to share with the Jewish leaders, “Be strong, all you people of the land, and WORK. For I am with you, declares the Lord Almighty”. The Lord is with us even during this pandemic of COVID-19. “Give careful thought to ways” that you can meet with your fellow believers and continue doing the WORK of the Lord!
Until next month,
Bro. Lyle