靈命日糧 - 2005年4月12日
讀經: 哈該書2章1-9節

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金句: 「這殿仍然荒涼，你們自己還住天花板的房屋嗎？」（哈該書1章4節）

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全年讀經: 詩篇4-6篇  

先知哈該雖在聖經中經常被忽略，卻對我們有著深刻的意義。哈該書雖短，卻涵蓋了上帝給被擄到巴比倫，又得以回歸的那些猶太人的四個信息，他們的使命就是在耶路撒冷重建聖殿。
這些猶太人有很好的開始，然而他們對重建聖殿的熱心漸漸冷卻，並開始建造他們自己的房子。在他的第一個信息，哈該說：「這殿仍然荒涼，你們自己還住天花板的房屋嗎」（哈該書1章4節）？

在第二個信息（哈該書2章1-9節），哈該問有誰記得由所羅門建造，之後被巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒摧毀的聖殿。其中有少數被擄到巴比倫的年長者，仍然記得它之前的榮耀。相比之下，他們半途而廢真是可惜。

讓我們思考一下教會建造的問題，如果教會是基督的身體－－－聖徒們自己就是基督的身體，並且各自做肢體（哥林多前書12章27節）。做為耶穌的追隨者，我們的使命就是使教會成為一個強壯、投入、成長、有見證的教會。

在你所屬的教會裏，教友情況如何呢？他們忙於上帝的事工嗎？你有親自參與嗎？還是你因為忙於建造個人的華麗房屋而忘記了上帝的事工呢？DCE


上帝賜給我們的才幹是為祂所用，
我為主做工的熱誠是否有減退呢？
祂的國第一！我們的光不能減－－－
祂的光經由祂信實的僕人而閃爍。Mollon


委身上帝與委身教會有著密切關係。
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Paneled Houses



Read:Haggai 2:1-9
Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? —Haggai 1:4


Bible In One Year: Psalm 4-6

The prophecy of Haggai is often overlooked in Scripture, but it holds much for us. This brief book consists of four messages from God to the Jewish exiles who had returned from Babylon. Their mission was to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

They started well, but then their enthusiasm waned and they turned to building houses for themselves. In his first message, Haggai asked, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" (1:4).

In message two (2:1-9), Haggai asked if anyone remembered the temple Solomon had built, and that King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed. A few elderly exiles could recall the former glory. By comparison, the abandoned work looked pitiful.

Let's think for a moment about our work of building the church. For us, the church is the body of Christ—the believers themselves (1 Corinthians 12:27). Our mission as followers of Jesus is to become a strong, dedicated, growing, witnessing church.

How is your local congregation doing? Is it busy doing the work of God? Are you personally involved? Or have you become distracted with the work of building your own "paneled houses"? —Dave Egner


God gives us talents to be used for Him.
Should then His work for lack of zeal decline?
His kingdom first! Our light must not grow dim—
Through faithful servants may His glory shine! —Mollon

Commitment to Christ goes hand in hand with commitment to His church.