You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.

Haggai 1

You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. v9

As God brought the Jews out of bondage from Babylon, Jesus rescues us from the bondage of sin.  God's desires for us don't stop there - just as He wanted the Jews to rebuild and move forward from their sins (and resulting punishment), God wants us to move forward and grow towards maturity.

First, we must establish that We (as believers) are God's temple.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own[.] 1 Corinthians 6:19

Next, we must understand that Jesus is the foundation and cornerstone. 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19-20

We must build a firm foundation to avoid the calamities that beset the Israelites, and tend to relationship with Jesus such that we continue to build on this foundation with growth and maturity.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God[.] Hebrews 6:1

My Prayer:  Lord, You are my foundation and my cornerstone and without You I would be too easily blown about and destroyed by the wind and waves of this world.  You have helped me overcome much and I am grateful.  Thank You Jesus for the blessings of Your life, truth, direction, encouragement, love, forgiveness, etc.  I am not worth such blessings as I continue in my sloth.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.