The life of a believer is blessed even though this also means suffering for doing good.

In this passage we find instructions on harmonious living. This is as a result of the gospel where elsewhere we are told that believers have received ‘every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.’  Blessing, however, does not mean that everything is automatically trouble free, hence the apostle’s instruction here for the church.

He says they are to be ‘like-minded, sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble. They are also not to ‘return evil for evil or insult for insult’ because that would not be consistent with their salvation. In Jesus Christ, God has granted them forgiveness for their sins … how much more should they be kindhearted toward other believers.

There is also a quote in this passage from Psalm 34 in the Old Testament. Here there are 3 more reasons given for loving other Christians … 1) ‘the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous’ 2) ‘God’s ears are attentive towards the righteous’ and 3) ‘the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’

 

 

 The gospel affects every relationship

It is wrong to say that we value God’s grace but are not gracious towards others. This passage is about grace in action which goes against the societal norms of the day. The apostle Paul is a ‘prisoner for Christ’. Paul writes to Philemon as one who bears the marks of Christ’s service. It is a very personal letter. He takes a situation and applies the gospel to it. It seems Paul wants the readers to learn about the outworking of the gospel in relation to Onesimus, a runaway slave.

Paul comes to Philemon with a gracious plea for Onesimus. Paul could have used his position to order Philemon but rather appeals to Philemon on the basis of love. Paul’s plea is not about himself it is about Onesimus who has become a Christian through Paul’s ministry to him in prison. Paul asks Philemon to receive his former slave, Onesimus, back as now a brother in Christ. Paul alludes to Philemon ‘Let me be as Christ to you as he is to him’. Paul had been the instrument of Philemon’s salvation as well as Onesimus’. The gospel transforms all relationships.

 

 

 

Truly right relationships can only exist when they are based on the perfect example of grace

The question is sometimes asked ‘Does the Bible support slavery?’ The answer is yes and no. There are some passages that seem to support it and others that don’t. In this passage we find the apostles words to the church in relation to submission to masters. This is often a very difficult thing to do but he gives reasons for it and how to do it.

One reason given is ‘being conscious of God’ … because God is sovereign and he is the one who puts rulers in place we are to submit to them. Another reason is that ‘to this you were called’. Once again because God is in control, Christians should see those who are placed over them as ultimately being there for their good even though they may at times be unjust.

The final, and most compelling, reason given is the example of Jesus Christ. He went to the cross even though completely innocent and suffered unimaginably to pay the penalty for the wrongdoing of others. All this amazing grace in order to provide the most wonderful freedom that anyone can ever possess … the forgiveness of their sins.

 

 

   Trust and obey in light of the coming kingdom of God

Summarising what the prophet had shown, the Jews have returned from Babylon and have to face opposition from the surrounding nations. These nations sought to delay the Jews from rebuilding the temple. There are similarities in relation to the church today with opposition and a suspicious community. The church is still called to trust and obey because the outcome is certain. The fulfillment will come through a descendant of the leader Zerubbabel … Jesus Christ, whose throne will be established forever.

In this passage we are told, through the prophet, that the Lord will overthrow kingdoms and rulers which are opposed to him. There will be only one kingdom which will remain … God’s kingdom. This promise is fulfilled and will be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, without the aid of humanity … he has done this on his own through the grace and power of God. The mention of Zerubbabel points to the true chosen servant, descended also from David, whose kingdom is being established through the cross … all God’s work and whose members are those who, through grace, trust in and obey him.

 

 

  Obedience leads to blessing

In this passage we find the prophet telling the people that they have become defiled because of their sin … disobedience. He uses illustrations to show how contact between foods does not convey consecration but contact with a dead body causes defilement. He then carries the analogy over to the people and the nation … their disobedience in not completing the work on the temple has defiled their worship offerings to the Lord.

The relevance for God’s people today is parallel to this. Christ’s sacrifice makes his people holy but this needs to be lived out in obedience … grace must not be taken for granted.

The reason God did not bless the people in Haggai’s time was that he wanted to bring the people back to himself. The people had wanted the things they received but not God as the provider of them. It was a problem of worship. We find that, when the people had rightly responded to God’s word, he blesses their obedience. Faith without obedience is dead.

 

 

 

  Living out the Gospel in a way that benefits others

God ‘s people are to live in such a way that it is for the common good of all people. In this passage we find the first way that they are to do this is by keeping away from sin and sinful desires. This involves serving and loving those among whom we live in the various relationships of life.

The second way is to be a good citizen. This means submitting to a range of authorities on both ends of the civil spectrum. There are exceptions to this. For example, in the case where God’s people are told to sin. This is something that they must not do and therefore respectfully decline.

The final way is to live as free people but this freedom should never be used as a cover up for evil. It involves showing proper respect for everyone … nothing is more helpful to hurting people than love. Sometimes God’s people‘ drop the ball’ and unnecessarily cause offence. In the case of Jesus, however, he never dropped the ball but went to the cross, as a substitute, even though completely innocent, in order to pay the penalty for sin.

 

 

 

 God will glorify himself and his people will be blessed

Sometimes we believe that the past was better than today. However when we look to the past we might miss what is happening in the present. In this passage we find it is about one month since the prophet spoke to the people about the new temple. The people are asked to compare it with the original temple. They became discouraged and disappointed. This is because they looked to the task and not to the Lord. They failed to trust him to carry out his work.

This can be the same with the church today. God’s people should, and must, promote the gospel and look to Jesus for the accomplishment of this task.

Returning to Haggai’s time … how does the Lord deal with their discouragement? He encourages them to continue the work because he will be with them. He will give them the gifts for the rebuilding of the temple. Do God’s people today trust that he is with them in gospel work? Fear should not be allowed to discourage them because God has given his word and promises to be with his people by his Spirit. Fear should never be the default position because of the cross. Jesus is the true temple and he is building this temple by saving his people from their sins.

 

 

 God sent His Son to be the cornerstone of a building composed of ‘living stones’

The Great Wall of China is arguably the greatest man-made building in the world. However, it doesn’t compare with the one which God has made through the death and resurrection of Jesus and composed of ‘living stones’ … all those who have come to trust in Him. In this passage the apostle Peter wants to talk about God’s building which is all thanks to Jesus.

To affirm the significance of this building Peter turns to the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Jesus is the stone that God laid for it and which set the direction of the whole building. He is the cornerstone of the church and therefore precious to His people. Jesus is also a stone that causes those who reject Him to stumble.

Around the time that Peter wrote this letter there was either the prospect of, or actual, severe persecution for Christians. The emperor Nero had set the city alight and publicly blamed the Christians for doing it. The subsequent persecution went on for a long time and we can imagine Vs9 would have meant much to them by the remembrance of how precious they were to God. Vs10 is also a greatly encouraging reminder of the mercy from God they have received in Jesus.

 

 

Seeking God’s kingdom first means having God’s priorities not our own

In seeking God’s kingdom, priorities need to be shaped by the ‘good news’ of what Jesus has accomplished in His death and resurrection, so people can become part of God’s kingdom. Other priorities often get in the way. In this passage we find that 16 years after the commencement little progress had been made. The leaders needed to be encouraged so that they could encourage others. The people were focusing on themselves and not the Lord.

God, however, is at work wanting to bring his people back to himself. He takes pleasure in them when they take their responsibilities seriously. In the New Testament the disciple Matthew records Jesus’ words … ‘seek first the kingdom of God.’ Because of wrong priorities, God called for a drought in Haggai’s time. The people responded (v12) and obeyed the message from the prophet Haggai. God then says “I am with you.’ (v13)

We can see a pattern here … God’s word is proclaimed, God’s people respond and God blesses their response. Likewise we are to respond rightly to God’s word. We are not alone.

 

 

 

 

   Wisdom for relationships in difficult times

In this passage we find God’s wisdom for people in difficult times … the horizontal aspect of relationships for those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle John has previously recorded Jesus words which speak to his disciples, ‘love one another as I have loved you’. The apostle Peter in this letter defines ‘obedience’ in terms of ‘love’. He uses two different words which mean ‘brotherly love’ and ‘sacrificial love’. The latter is what Jesus showed at the cross.

Those who Peter was writing to are told that they can demonstrate this second, higher, love because they have been born again. They have come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Peter spells it out by mentioning the following sins to avoid: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. He uses a quote from the prophet Isaiah to show that their old life is not like their new one.

Peter tells them further about how they can rid themselves of sin. They are to be like ‘newborn babes’ hungering for the pure milk of the word. Learning more and more form Scripture is very important for their spiritual growth. The ‘food’ for their souls obtained by reading God’s word (Scripture) is for their maturing. Spiritual appetite comes from tasting that ‘the Lord is good’.