A God Who Calls Us to Good Works (1:8)
8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.
God calls his people to good works. We are not saved on the basis of our good works, but through faith in Christ (Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9). Yet, as a people who are saved by God’s grace through faith, we are called to do works (Eph 2:10). The same was true in Haggai’s day.
The people of Israel were called to “build the house,”—the temple. This was where God’s people would bring their sacrifices and pray together. It was to be a place of worship, fellowship and prayer. And God promised that he would ‘take pleasure in it’ and ‘be glorified’ by it.
God has no needs, but graciously delights in the worship of His people. We were made for His glory and nothing else can satisfy the longings of our hearts. This God has good works of us to do today. We are called to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of Christ (Matt 28:18-20).
Praise God that He delights in our good works today.
