After You Have Suffered A While!
So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Temple servants, and some of the common people settled near Jerusalem. The rest of the people returned to their own towns throughout Israel. Nehemiah 7: 73 (NLT)
As the old folks used to say, "trouble don’t last always". Nehemiah and the returning Jews accomplished a great mission, by the grace of God. In spite of opposition, in spite of intimidation, in spite of bodily threats – they persevered and rebuilt the wall at Jerusalem. They had gotten weary and worn, but by going through all the way, they gained strength and were looking forward to the next task, building and re-building their own homes. They learned a foundational secret, when you take care of the things of God, He has a way of making it easy to take care of your own necessary things Haggai had this to say of people whose priority was out of order:
2 "This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’"
3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 "Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!…
9 You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. 10 It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. Haggai 1:2-day 6;9-10 (NLT)
Yet, redemption is always available from the Lord, as it says in 1 Peter 5:10
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT) on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT)
Maria