Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?…Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord (Haggai 1:4,7-8).

Our Lord Jesus was poured out for us;

Hence we have life and blessings today;

He lived for God’s purposes through and through;

By Him we’ve been called into fellowship with God.

 

We ought to live for God’s purposes and not for ours;

Making ourselves available to do all He wills;

Renewing our minds into thinking that says;

“I am not my own, I belong to God.”

 

As beloved children, He cares for us;

Provides all our needs according to His will;

We sing of His goodness, we tell of His mercies,

But as children we yet have a part to play.

 

Our heavenly Father expects much of us;

Childish days are over when we lounged and played;

As maturing sons, He has appointed for us

Training and roles to be fulfilled for Him.

 

Wherever we find ourselves, we should come to know

That our omniscient Father has placed us there

To fulfill specific purposes for a time,

In our lives and in the lives of those around.

 

To suffer and be inconvenienced in His will, O what a joy!

A sure way to gain rewards in glory above.

To suffer for our own purposes, what a waste!

Depositing nothing in eternity’s bank.

 

Our Good Lord has planted much in us:

The beautiful treasures of the life of Christ.

Out of their bellies living waters shall flow[1],

But like fountains sealed up many have become[2].

 

The Lord is calling us to reconsider our ways,

To awake from slumber and seek His face

That we may be prepared and used by Him

For the purposes that He predestined for us.

 

This is not a call to engage in dead works,

Plans crafted by the human mind, void of life;

It is a call to seek His face

That we may be thrust forth in His power and grace.

 

Woe to you who are complacent in Zion[3]

And to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,

Those who recline on beds of ivory

But do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

 

The age old call of Amos resounds;

Let us place ourselves far away from its curse

By seeking the Lord for what needs to be done

For His glory and honor in the earth today.

 

Say not “I am a child” like Jeremiah did[4];

“I have no experience in the things of God”;

For through those childlike hearts the Lord delights to work,

To show His bountiful grace through the lowly and weak.

 

Say not “I am BUSY,” O don’t use that word!

“Too busy for God?” that’s deceit from hell;

Seek the Lord if you truly care,

He’s the Master-Organizer; He’ll free up your time.

 

“I’m burdened with problems,” some might say,

But look to see how far you’ve already come;

The abundant grace of God poured forth for you

Deserves a willing and obedient heart in return.

 

O Zion that bringest good tidings[5],

Get thee up into the high mountain;

Declare unto the heathen and saints about you,

“The Lord reigns, give glory to Him!”