The Grands Letter (Hag/GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on September 21, 2023 6:16 am (CST)Dear Grands,
Haggai 1:12-14, “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the LORD.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke by the commission of the LORD to
the people saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the LORD.”
14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the
remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts,
their God…”
There are 17 references in the Bible to “old age.” You may not believe it, but I was never
interested in anything relative to “old age,” until I entered the realm. Far too many negative things are said today about the “aged.” There was a time when I contributed to those negative remarks in a humorous manner, but no more! I have “transgenderized.”
I never think about getting older until I notice the alterations in some words in the Scripture.
Look at the word obeyed in verse 12 above. That’s a childish word –one we all had to
learn when we were “kids.” Yet, mentioned 169 times in the Scriptures, it relates quite often
to us as adults. This passage in Haggai reminds us all that we are both “spiritual” in nature and potentially a “child” of God. Yet, He wants us to grow into spiritual adulthood. That’s as natural spiritually, as it is physically.
As we grow spiritually in obedience, we learn to reverence the LORD. When I was very
small, I learned to speak of my adult neighbors by their Christian names. Yet, never did I
personally address them that way! Only as I grew older, did I commence to speak as an
adult to those well beyond my age. The LORD “grows” in our thinking as we grow intellectually. And we commence to relate to Him as a “child of God.”
Verse 13 above shows that once Haggai grew into adulthood, he became a messenger
of the LORD. That does not mean that children are exempt from witnessing of Him. I know
adults who came to faith in Christ because of the witness of a child. But, “messenger,” here
leans toward maturity. It may mean a “preparation for a larger service.” Certainly, it speaks
of spiritual development, a maturation in the faith!
Commission is a word that emphasizes permanence. It may refer to one becoming a pastor
or a missionary or some other form of full-time Christian service. It was the word the LORD
used when He said, “I am with you.” It is His word-promise that He will never leave or forsake
those of us who are truly His.
Where are you in the grand scheme of things? Do you know Him as LORD and Savior of your life? Are you obeying Him as you ought? Is He always referenced in your words of conversation? Has He called you to become what you have yet to become? Salvation made you part of His Family! It is a forever-Family! He rejoices over us as we rejoice over our children. Does your life occasion rejoicing in His Family? I trust that it does. May God bless you abundantly!
Heartily in Christ Jesus,
(Dado III)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America
“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom