Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Haggai: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does it become consecrated?” The priests answered, “No.” Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?” “Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.” Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with these people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled. “‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple.'”
– Haggai 2:10-15
Devotion
Haggai essentially asks the priests two questions: If that which is holy touches that which is unholy, will it make the unholy holy? The answer is no. If that which is unholy touches that which is holy, will the unholy make it unholy? The answer is yes. The major point here is this: holiness is not communicated. Unholiness is communicated. When the holy and unholy come into contact, both are unholy. Trying to make yourselves acceptable with God through ceremonies or good deeds will be a fruitless endeavor. What God is saying to the people through Haggai, “The reason you have not been blessed is because you have been coming to Me with unclean hands and unclean hearts. They had ceased to be a holy nation set apart for His purposes.
The Big Question
God encourages the people to, “Now give careful thought to this from this day on…” Even though they had begun to rebuild the temple, their hearts were still far from Him, and He was not able to bless them. God was asking them to examine themselves in light of their history with Him. In First Peter 1:15-16, we are instructed, “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” As you give careful thought to how you live out your faith, is there anything that is keeping you from approaching God with a clean heart? If so, are you willing to repent so that you are able to come before God with a clean heart? Do you daily examine your life in light of God’s Word? Do you seek to reflect Christ in word and deed?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what God revealed to you today.