We all do it. Often, we don't even realize we are doing it, but we do it anyway. We compare things and we compare people. "That restaurant is not as nice as this one." "That athlete is better than this one." "She doesn't sing as good as this person." "He doesn't look like he will amount to anything." Sometimes we compare what we see right now, in the present, to the way things were in the past. We then begin longing for the "good 'ole days." All of these comparisons, however, may cause us to miss the potential of something or someone. This was the challenge faced by the Jews who were rebuilding the temple following their return from captivity. God confronted this head-on in Haggai 2. "Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory," asked God. "And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing" (v3)? We are told in the book of Ezra that when the foundation for the new temple was laid, the older folks who had seen the original one cried. The new one paled in comparison. Yet the old saying is true: "You can't judge a book by its cover." This is especially true when it comes to God. "The glory of this latter temple will be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts" (v8). It may not have been as exciting to look at as the old temple, but God promised that He would do even greater things through the new one. Friend, you and I must be careful not to look at people or situations and automatically write them off. With God everything truly is possible, and He may have something great in store for what we see as lackluster.
_________________________ Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.
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