Tahsas 20 — December 29

Haggai the Prophet, Who Helped Build God's House

Today we remember Haggai the prophet. A prophet is a special helper who listens to God and then tells God's words to other people. Haggai came from the family of Aaron, who was God's first great priest, so he loved God's house from the time he was small.

Haggai lived a long time ago, in hard days. God's people, the Jewish people, had been carried far away from home to a land called Babylon. That long time away from home is called the exile. They missed Jerusalem, the city they loved. But God did not forget them. After a while, He let His people go back home, and Haggai walked back with them and their leader, a good man named Zerubbabel.

Back in Jerusalem, the people began to rebuild God's holy temple, a great house of worship first built long before by wise King Solomon. But the work was hard, and the people grew tired. They stopped building God's house. Instead they made warm, fancy houses for themselves and let His house sit unfinished.

So God sent Haggai with a gentle, loving message. He did not shout. He simply asked the people a question to help them think. Was it right to live in lovely houses while God's own house lay broken and empty? The people listened. Their hearts grew brave and glad again, and they picked up their tools and finished the temple. What a happy day that was.

Haggai lived a long, full life of more than seventy years. When he died, the people buried him with honor near the priests in Jerusalem, because he had served God so faithfully. And in this happy Christmas season, it is good to remember what Haggai taught: more than anything, God wants a home with His people, and that is just what Jesus came to make.

Is it right for you to live in your fine houses, while the house of God still lies in ruins?— Haggai the prophet

Take courage, all you people, and work — for I am with you, says the Lord.— Haggai the prophet