IT'S ALL GOD! | WITH KAYA COCOE (MARK IN SILENCE DEVOTIONAL SERIES) DAY 6 OF 7

IT'S ALL GOD

When it is all said and done, God has the last word...and it is good!

If we think about it for a moment, truly think and meditate on it...we will see this truth in the lives of those who believe: the glory of the latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9) We have heard it said, "my latter shall be greater than my former..." However, sounding as a misquoting of the bible it is a summary of an encouragement rather than full-blown Scripture. In fact, people could say cherry-picking is a problem when it comes to some Christians. Yet, thinking about Haggai chapter two verse nine is respectively hopeful...why?

When you read Haggai 2:9 for yourself, one cannot help but have hope for themselves...after once being discouraged. Imagine, your past...how in comparison to the present it seems as if you would like to go back despite you moving forward. The "Back to Egypt" Syndrome and Phenomenon sets in and you think that the past was actually better than what you have now. Though, rose-colored lenses often fade, and we see the real thing.

The people obeyed God in building the temple of the Lord that Haggai spoke as the Lord gave him instruction to tell the people to consider their ways...for they had houses but the Lord's house laid waste (Haggai 1:4), but it states: Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages to put into a bag with holes. (Haggai 1:6)

The one they were neglecting was the Lord's house, so they built one and in comparison, it was lackluster: Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?  (see Haggai 2:3)

Sometimes, we see our lives as just the same...we obeyed God, but it seems our life is not what we thought it would be in the present. That is why people may use Scripture to place themselves in the situation even to the point of being encouraged...to find meaning. Now, I am not condoning that Scripture be taken out of context. People are trying to see themselves in the light of hope when it comes to the sayings such as "my latter shall be greater than my former..."

It is sad, honestly.

For how does one relate to Scripture if they do not place themselves in the words and relate it back to their present lives? I have good news: keep placing yourself there, keep relating to Scripture. The most dishonest thing we can do to ourselves is to say we are not suffering when we indeed are in need of an encouraging word. 

God has the last word in our lives, he knows that the former glory of our lives feels better than what we are going through in the present, but there is beauty in the latter. We are not simply waiting on the day of death...no, we are anticipating and expecting God to do something now. Our future is that we have learned to lean on God despite the pain and the Lord is faithful.

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish you, strengthen, settle you." (1 Peter 5:10) 

It is that our pain or suffering is not in vain, our prayers are not hitting the ceiling, our fasting, our reaching for Christ is not a vain show...not at all. God is still moving, but when? Do you remember your former? The Lord has been working long before you were born, if you take courage...you will see that he is still working it out and it will be better than it was according to your faith. Though, I can say all of this, and it means nothing if you don't see it for yourself. If we don't align ourselves to hope in the Lord's finished work in our lives, then it would mean nothing. 

So, the question reduces to: Are you ready to hope again?

ABOUT "MARK IN SILENCE" DAILY DEVOTIONAL

The Nature of Men is to begin, exploring the call of God, being marked by him and our impact in a world where darkness is not only prevalent but tries to overtake us, but God is the author and finisher of our faith. Having marked those long ago, before the foundation of the world. 

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Kaya Cocoe