God’s people, of every generation, have had to endure great opposition as they served in the will of God. Many of them had to learn that opposition was not a reason to stop working for the Lord, but to press on all the more.
Zerubbabel and Joshua worked to oversee the building of the second Temple. But the opposition was so fierce that many of the builders stopped working and started focusing on building their own homes and businesses. The Lord’s work was just too much trouble.
So the Lord sent two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage them with these wonderful words… “I am with you, says the Lord… Be strong, O Zerubbabel; and be strong, O Joshua, and be strong, all you people of the land, and work: for I am with you… My Spirit remains among you: do not fear” (Haggai 1:13, 2:3-5).
God’s encouragement proved to the people that building was His will. Had it been outside God’s will, the verse… “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” would have applied. But God’s promises and presence were the guarantee they were in His will, doing His work.
When the second Temple was finished, Jesus, “God manifest in the flesh,” walked within its walls, preached within its porches, and offered Himself as the Source of everlasting life to all who would believe. Their labor had not been in vain.
“Yet a little while, and I will shake all nations and the Desire of Nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory,” was God’s promise to the workers then – and to us now. We know His will through His Word, His Spirit indwells us, and we are building His Church – not of bricks and stones, but flesh and bones – for eternity. Be strong and work. Jesus is returning soon.
(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)
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