Haggai 2:4 “Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

To be honest, every time I read Haggai I get irritated at how often he interjects, “Declares the Lord.” It’s rather like he’s afraid the people won’t believe God is speaking through him if he doesn’t tell them that’s what’s going on. I personally believe prophets should speak out what they hear God saying, but trust Him for whatever happens after that, whether the words are received or not. We get all involved in trying to make things happen, when we need to trust God. It’s very interesting that I just wrote that, because of what I feel the Lord is saying here. Sometimes we confuse faith and presumption. Just because we believe God is going to do something, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a part in it. Here, God is saying, “I’m with you, so get up off your duff and get to work!” This applies in all sorts of areas. Sometimes we want God’s guidance, but we sit like a bump on a log expecting Him to move us. It’s awfully hard to turn the steering wheel of a car that the engine isn’t even on! In New Testament terms, Ephesians 2:8-9 are rightly loved, because they proclaim that our salvation is all God’s doing, since even faith is a gift from Him. However, too many people leave off verse 10, which says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God didn’t create us to sit on the bench! If we want to walk in the incredible abundance of fellowship with our Creator, we need to be seeking out and doing the things He has prepared for us to do! It’s not in the least that we have to earn our salvation – as if we ever could – but that we will never have the satisfaction and joy that God intends for us without doing the things He’s prepared for us to do as His agents.

I’ve just had some practical experiences in this. Sunday afternoon a group of us went to a large nursing home and did two half-hour Christmas concerts, one on each of two floors of the facility. It was work, but it felt wonderful, particularly to see the joy in so many of the residents’ faces. Then, yesterday afternoon, four of us went and did the same thing at a much smaller senior facility. It really warmed my heart to see one lady yesterday singing right along with us, as we had invited them to do, not needing the song sheet we had given her. I had known from previous visits that she’s a Catholic believer, and the joy of the Lord was very evident in her. Frankly, two days in a row like that was exhausting, particularly since I’m just getting over the cold I had all last week, but it was more than worth it. Serving God is fun, and representing Him is an enormous privilege.

Father, thank You indeed for the privilege of serving You. I do pray that our interactions at both locations would remain in the hearts of those present, both residents and staff, encouraging the believers and drawing the others to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!