Category Archives: Provision

Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Prayer, Protection, Provision, Scripture, Temple, Trust

THE TOP STONE

ZECHARIAH 4:7

“‘What are you, you great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring out the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

I once helped my dad and other volunteers build additions to the school we were attending. I watched them pour the foundation and begin laying the block. At first, it was kind of exciting. But for a young boy like me, that did not last until…they were laying the last block on the top of the wall. Whew! What a project!

In today’s verse you see the mention of the “top stone.” Zechariah is being told their enemies (great mountain) will be defeated (become a plain). And then the temple, which had long had its foundation cornerstone laid, would have the crowning achievement completed – the laying of the top stone. Scholars agree that this is a reference to Jesus being not only the cornerstone but also the top stone. He is the beginning and the end.

APPLICATION

Do you see that in your life? I mean, is Jesus your first and last, the beginning and the end? He should be. He should have your highest priority. You have heard that your priorities should be God, family and then church. That is the order of things. That is how it should be. Jesus should be the crowning achievement in your life, your top stone.

When we don’t place Him first, we lose focus. Putting other things before the Lord never works. Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Do you believe that? It’s true. He will meet your needs. Just put Him first in your life.

Maybe you have done that, and you still don’t feel He is listening. Hold on, dear one. He is. Keep trusting. He knows exactly where you are. He knows your name. Keep calling out to Him. His timing is always perfect even though we think He is not responding. He is. I promise. Better yet – He promises.

I know You hear my cries, dear Lord. I shall wait for You.

Advertisement
Standard
Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Caregiver, Contentment, Gifts, Hunger, Provision, Scripture

ONLY HALF

HAGGAI 2:16

“from that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would be only twenty.”

I have been blessed through my years in that I can say I have never gone hungry. Oh, I thought I was starving a few times, but I was really just whiny about not eating when I wanted. There’s a difference in being hungry and truly starving. Not having enough to provide yourself or your family is a real issue in many parts of our world today. Be grateful if you are like me and are blessed with more than you need.

God was reminding the people of Israel to continue to think back to the days when they didn’t have enough. Grain was short on supply, as well as the fruit of the vine to make wine. Those were days of judgment when they suffered because of their disobedience. Now, they were living in relative ease, but they needed to remember where they had been and what God had done for them.

APPLICATION

Maybe that’s you. Do you need to remember where you were and where God has brought you? We seem to forget so quickly, don’t we. In the middle of thanking the Philippians for sending him a gift, Paul says this in Philippians 4:11-12. “11 Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”

Paul reflected back to the lean years. He shared how God had taught him to be thankful in whatever situation he found himself. Boy, we could learn a lot from Paul, couldn’t we? But I love the next verse. Paul reveals the secret to this. It’s in verse 13. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” That is the key. It is Christ in me. It is Christ in you.

When I think back to my “lean” years, I can pinpoint specific events that caused my faith to leap forward. Times when all I could do is trust in His sovereign will helped me grow. Was it fun? Nope. Did I struggle through it? Yep. But looking back I can see the fingerprints of God all over. Will you join me in trying to look closer for God’s fingerprints today? They are there. We just have to look.

Father, I am eternally grateful for Your bountiful provisions. The world may see them as meager, but I know You are giving me exactly what I need.

Standard
Abiding, Asking, Bible, Blessing, Caregiver, Faithfulness, God's Will, Hunger, Provision, Scripture

NO SATISFACTION

HAGGAI 1:6

“‘You have sown much, only to harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but there is not enough for anyone to get warm; and the one who earns, earns wages to put into a money bag full of holes.’”

One step forward and two steps back. Never getting anywhere. Have you ever felt that way? It seems no matter how hard you try, you never get the results you are looking for. Take dieting, for example. I can lose ten pounds and before I know it, I’ve gained in back. A lot of that has to do with my eating habits (who doesn’t like fried chicken and mashed potatoes, lol). I know I need to focus and be more disciplined if I want those pounds to stay off.

Haggai wasn’t talking about losing weight, though, in today’s verse. He is passing on the Lord’s point to the people. They were never satisfied with their harvest, their food, their drink, their clothing or their wages. Why? Because they were relying on themselves and not Him. They were striving after all these things, yet their heavenly Father promised to care for them if they would just follow.

APPLICATION

What is your need today? Did you know your Lord wants to meet that for you? He wants to come alongside you and show you the depths of His supply. As we submit to Him and follow Him, He takes care of those needs we have. Will you get everything you want? Of course not. That’s not how it works. We don’t just order room service from God.

Do you believe God’s Word? Philippians 4:19 tells us, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Take that on faith. Believe God will do what He said He will do. Why should you doubt the One who has redeemed you from a fiery end? He has saved and will preserve you.

I have never been wealthy and probably never will. That’s okay. I know I have everything I need. Look up Philippians 4:10-14. Take a good look at Paul’s attitude. We can have that same attitude as we trust God to provide our needs. Will you trust Him today? God knows your needs but tell Him anyway. He loves to hear you talk. He really does.

I am thankful, Lord, for the abundance You have blessed me with. You are a mighty God Who provides for me.

Standard
Bible, Dependence, Money, Provision, Scripture, Trust

SILVER AND GOLD

ZEPHANIAH 1:18

“Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’S anger; and all the earth will be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, for He will make a complete end, indeed a horrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.”

“Silver and gold, silver and gold; everyone wishes for silver and gold.” So go the lyrics to the song sung by the snowman in the animated movie classic, “Rudolph, the Red-Nose Reindeer.” Those sentiments are so true. As I write this blog, one of the lotto games is up to $1.35 billion. Everyone is clamoring for that prize, thinking it will bring them ultimate joy. It won’t.

The Lord warns the people in verse 18 that their wealth will not save them in the end. They may think they can escape His wrath, but no amount of silver or gold can expunge the sins committed against God. He does not demand monetary payment for our sins. He demands repentance. He expects contrition. This is a good warning for us today.

APPLICATION

Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:24, “‘No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’” And we find in Paul’s first letter to Timothy, chapter 6, verses 9 and 10, “9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

You see, the Bible has lots to say about money. In fact, by some counts, there are over 2,300 verses on money in the Bible. Do you think God sees the importance of us understanding it? I think so. How you handle your money is a direct reflection on how you trust the Lord. Is money your source of provision or is the Lord?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I like having money as much as the next guy. You have to have it to live in this world. But I know my provision is not in what I have. It is in Who I have – Jesus. He is my only true source. I dare not trust in the temporal in exchange for the eternal. How about you?

Remind me, Father, of my total dependence on You, not on the things of this world.

Standard