January 19, 2023 by Carol Scheitlin
Into the NEW … It’s Time!
Resetting Priorities, Taking Action, and Joining in the Great Work
INTRO: A FUTURE AND A HOPE
“For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah, 29:10-12, nkjv)
New beginnings often bring enthusiasm and refreshed motivation. At the beginning of a new year, we often make plans and resolutions, set goals, and then try, in our own efforts, to do all the wonderful things that we so carefully thought would be good.
Then opposition comes, our plans get set aside, things don’t go the way we thought, we get discouraged, and we may feel like quitting.
It can be easy, especially in the times in which we live, to get discouraged and side-tracked, and set aside even the good and Godly goals.
The purpose of this month’s blog is to encourage each of us to take stock of where we are at, reset priorities, keep God first, and, as God leads, to take the action that He has established for us. Now is NOT the time for complacency. Now is NOT the time to quit or to set God’s priorities aside.
It’s a great time now to consider our ways, ask important questions and respond to God’s call.
MAKING GOD’S PRIORITIES YOUR PRIORITIES
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.”
Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.” (Haggai 1:2-5, nkjv)
A number of the Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. They had been in Babylonian captivity for 70 years. They were called to do a work – to rebuild God’s temple that had been destroyed.
They had started to build, but after a few years of working on the temple, things got tough, opposition grew, they got discouraged, and the work stopped.
Those who had worked at building God’s house, now drifted away. Complacency set in. They turned their focus on their own houses, turned their hearts to their own more comfortable priorities.
They began to make excuses saying in essence ‘it’s not time yet, that the Lord’s house should be built’. They got involved with other priorities and remained comfortable in their own houses, maybe doing easier projects, a different work for themselves, without all of the physical and spiritual opposition.
And the work on God’s house ceased for about 14 years. (see Haggai Chapter 1)
Is there a work in your life that you knew God wanted you to do, but for some reason you stopped doing it?
You may have started to work at it, with good intentions to complete it, but then something happened along the way and you put God’s work aside?
The setting aside of God’s priorities may have happened over a period of time. It may have lasted many years as it did for the Jewish people at the time of Haggai. It may have happened so subtly that you didn’t even fully realize that you were slowly drifting away.
Perhaps your own worries and cares are currently taking priority over God’s priorities. God's Word tells us to seek His kingdom first, and He will take care of all our needs. (see Matthew 6:32b-33)
We can trust God and trust that when we follow His priorities, He will take care of us.
We can trust that God can give us grace and provision sufficient for whatever He calls us to do.
Now is a great time to reassess, reconsider, and be sure that we are on His straight path, not turning to the right or left.
It’s a great time to be sure, individually and together, that we are making God’s priorities our priorities.
As the account in the book of Haggai continues, after God told the Jewish people to consider their ways, we see that instruction and next steps of guidance were then given. In God’s love and mercy, He gave instruction for them, to get them back on track.
“Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.” (Haggai 1:9, nkjv)
The Jewish people were called now to go out, to get the needed materials, and to build the temple. They were given another opportunity to respond and obey – for His glory.
We can be thankful for opportunities and second chances God gives us. If you are a child of God, if you have put your faith in Him, trusted Him as Lord and Savior, and want His will for your life, you can have the assurance that God will direct your steps. Even when we fall short, God won’t abandon us. He promises to never leave or forsake us.
God often works situations and details in our lives to refine us, renew us, and restore us, for His glory. He helps us to become more like Him, to grow in love and in the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23), so we can be used in greater ways for His higher purposes.
God, in His love and mercy, can give us the opportunity to turn back to Him, and to get back on track. We can trust Him, thank Him for His grace, and move forward in obedience.
Let’s take a look at a few Scriptures and see what we can learn from others in the Bible who were called to obey, to trust and move forward, and follow God’s direction. How did they respond? How did God show His power, grace and mercy in the situations they faced? Let’s find out.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING GOD’S DIRECTION
“Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters…” (Isaiah 43:16 nkjv)
Throughout the Bible, we see God giving direction, and people having a choice to follow His will or not.
Time and time again, we see that obedience to God’s Word brings blessing - in God’s way, at times miraculous, in His timing, and ALL for His sovereign good purposes.
There are times in the Bible when God gave direction and said “go” or ‘do this’, encouraging to take action, or take a step of faith.
We see examples of those who followed, those who delayed, and those who rejected God’s command.
And we can see the impact their choices had, on their own lives and on the lives of others.
ABRAHAM
The Lord told Abraham to go from his country and his people to the land that would be shown to him. And God said, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you…” (Genesis 12:2a, nkjv)
Abraham responded to the Lord: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, in faith, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8, nkjv)
NOAH
The Lord told Noah to build an ark. Then God told Noah to come into the ark and to bring in all his household. God also gave instruction to take the various kinds of animals, male and female, in order to keep the species alive as well. (see Genesis 7)
Noah responded to the Lord and built the ark. Noah obeyed God's instructions, and they were saved from the great world-wide flood. (Note: There is much evidence, geologically and scientifically, proving the global flood of the Bible.)
JONAH
God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach… (see Jonah 1:2).
Jonah responded to the Lord: Well, it wasn’t immediate obedience. Jonah didn’t obey the first time around, but God gave a second opportunity for Jonah to say YES to the Lord’s command.
Many may know of this account in the Bible. Jonah at first didn’t go where God said, but Jonah went instead in the direction that he (Jonah) wanted to go. After Jonah’s disobedience, and after he was swallowed up by a great fish, God mercifully spared Jonah’s life.
Then God gave the command a second time to Jonah, “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you…” (see Jonah 3:1-2).
After the command was given a second time, the next verse records, “So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.” (Jonah 3:3a, nkjv)
ELIJAH
The Lord told Elijah during a drought to go to the Brook Cherith where he would be given food and water, “so he went and did according to the word of the Lord” (1 Kings 17:5a, nkjv).
He remained at the Brook until God wanted him to move on, then the brook dried up.
Then God told Elijah to arise and go to Zarephath where a widow would provide for him.
Elijah responded to the Lord. He obeyed. “So he arose and went to Zarephath.” (1 Kings 17:10a).
MOSES
The Lord told Moses to go to Pharoah (see Exodus 3), and Moses went.
God heard the cries of His people and He would use Moses to lead the Jewish people out of Egyptian bondage.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN from those in the Bible who heard God’s call and obeyed it?
How important is it to trust God and follow Him?
Abraham chose not to stay in the place of comfort and familiarity, but chose to trust God and go to a land he didn’t know.
Noah obeyed God and built the ark, and trusted God when many in the world continued in their depravity and wickedness.
Elijah trusted God and moved forward, leaving the Brook Cherith which God had used to provide for him for a season.
Moses, though feeling inadequate, pointing out his own weaknesses, and making excuses, was empowered by God to obey God’s call on his life.
Do we trust and obey, or have we made our own excuses? Maybe we have said ‘Not me Lord’, ‘‘That work is too hard’, ‘They will reject me’, ‘I’m not the one to do this’, ‘I’m comfortable where I am’, ‘I don’t feel like doing that right now Lord’ or ‘You want me to go where??!!’
We can all come up with all kinds of reasons why we can’t follow and trust God.
YET GOD CALLED MOSES who felt inadequate for the work. God called Elijah. God called Noah, Jonah, and Abraham and many others to do difficult and sometimes seemingly impossible things. Impossible to man, but not for God.
It was God’s will to use them mightily. They obeyed and saw God’s power!
So, what can we learn? Let's consider God's power & some of the important and long-term blessings of their obedience:
God gave each of them all that was needed to fulfill His purposes to bless many:
- to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt
- to cross through the sea on dry ground
- to provide for a poor widow
- to give truth to a hardened people
- to bless His chosen people
- to protect and preserve the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
- and to fulfill the Biblical prophecies of a coming Messiah by sending Jesus (Yeshua, in Hebrew) to make the perfect atonement for our sins!
God’s perfect will is always accomplished in God’s perfect way, in His perfect timing.
It was time for the Jewish people in the time of Haggai to put their own priorities aside. It was time to choose to follow the Lord’s instruction. It was time to rely on God’s strength, through the power of the Holy Spirit to do His work.
So the Jewish people this time obeyed God’s word, set their hands and hearts to work, to build God’s house, and God blessed. "Consider now from this day forward.. But from this day I will bless you.” (see Haggai 2:18-19)
SO WHERE ARE YOU AT WITH THE LORD TODAY?
Here are some important truths to remember, and I pray will encourage you as you think of your current circumstances:
1. God blesses obedience, the quiet submitting of your heart to His will, the yielding of all your cares to Him, and the steps of faith taken in response to His Word.
2. God is merciful to get us back on track, on the straight path when we may have drifted away.
3. God is faithful to work all things for good in your life, even trials, even mistakes, even persecution, for His glory. He is able to forgive, guide and keep us.
4. God will always care for us and provide what we need. He is the Good Shepherd, Who loves us, leads us, protects us, and can carry us in His strong arms when we feel weak.
”He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11, nkjv)
5. God is compassionate and can fill you with His love and with His Spirit so you can speak boldly to a people who are walking in darkness and without Hope, speak to a neighbor about eternity, reach out in His compassion to a teen who may have lost his or her way, or make His Truth known to others who may not yet know God’s wonderful plan of salvation.
IS GOD LEADING YOU TO RESPOND TO HIS CALL & TAKE ACTION?
Is God leading you to take action to speak His Truth with love, to share the Gospel with those He puts in your path? Is He calling you to reach out and speak Truth to a hurting generation, to give help to those in need, to tell someone about the Messiah?
Or maybe it's time now to get back to church, or to get involved in a group Bible study.
God may call some to go to another land to serve and bring Hope. Or maybe to hand out Bibles or Gospel tracts in your community.
Perhaps God is calling you to build up and encourage His people, and to be a part of building His house serving in the ways that He will show you.
We look to Him.
May God help each of us in whatever areas needed, to be encouraged, to be built up, to bless and to build up others in Him. If we need to refocus our eyes back on the Lord, may we do so.
May we each reassess our priorities to be sure we are putting HIM FIRST in all areas of our lives, and for our children.
May we put our hands to the plow as God leads - strengthened by His Holy Spirit, to move forward in His love.
May we get involved in areas of service as God leads, and join together in His very great work.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20, nkjv)
RELATED ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES FOR YOUR HOME BIBLE STUDY:
I pray the following topics and Scriptures will also bless and help you AS YOU "CONSIDER YOUR WAYS", AS YOU SEEK GOD'S WILL, and FULFILL HIS CALLING ON YOUR LIFE:
THE CALL TO REPENTANCE: GOD’S PATIENCE, OUR REPENTENCE:
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, esv)
WHO IS THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD?:
“…Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed…” (Isaiah 43:10b-12a, nkjv)
SEEK GOD, AND YOU WILL FIND HIM:
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, nkjv)
GOD’S GREAT LOVE FOR US:
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10, kjv)
GOD PROVIDES YESHUA/JESUS WHO PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS:
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah 53:5, kjv)
GOD’S SACRIFICE & LIFE IN HIM:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, nkjv)
THE CALL TO SALVATION:
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, nkjv)
GOD KNOWS YOUR NAME AND WILL BE WITH YOU:
“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name;
You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2a, nkjv)
GOD’S FRUIT:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, nkjv)
THE CALL TO LOVE: LOVE DEFINED & THE PRIORITY OF LOVE:
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away…
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13, nkjv)
GOD WILL DO A NEW THING:
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”(Isaiah 43:19, nkjv)
RUN THE RACE FREE AND FOCUSED:
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, kjv)
THE CALL TO DECLARE GOD’S GLORY & GOD’S MARVELOUS WORKS:
“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples." (Psalm 96:1-3, nkjv)
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Carol Scheitlin is director of New Life Expressions, writer, and author of "LET THE HOUSE OF AARON SAY", Book #1 of The Series of Seven Collection, a unique series of practical and prophetic resources to enrich your life and help you understand your high calling in life now, your purpose, and your final eternal destiny. “Let the House of Aaron Say” (Paperback and E-Book, currently available on Amazon).
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