The Israelites, after returning from exile, were discouraged as they rebuilt the temple, feeling their efforts could never match the splendor of Solomon’s original. Yet God’s promise through Haggai was not about the magnificence of stone or gold, but about His own presence filling the new house. The true weight, splendor, and glory of any place of worship is not found in its architecture or beauty, but in the living presence of God among His people. As we focus on restoring physical spaces, we must remember that God’s desire is to restore and dwell within His people, making our hearts His true home. [04:51]
Haggai 2:9 (ESV)
“The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.”
Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to focus on outward appearances—at church, at home, or in your life—rather than seeking God’s presence within? How can you intentionally invite His presence into your heart today?
With the coming of Jesus, God’s glory is no longer confined to a building or a single place. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the barrier between God and humanity was torn down, and now, by the Holy Spirit, God’s presence dwells within every believer. Each of us becomes a living temple, carrying the hope and glory of Christ wherever we go. This profound truth means that God’s presence is accessible to all who follow Jesus, and His glory is multiplied as we gather together in worship and unity. [12:02]
1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.”
Reflection: What would it look like for you to live today with the awareness that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit? Is there a specific area of your life where you need to invite God’s presence more fully?
True and lasting peace cannot be manufactured by our own efforts, comforts, or surroundings. Only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can exchange our anxieties and fears for His peace that surpasses understanding. This peace comes as we surrender control, name our worries before God, and open ourselves to receive His calming presence. In the midst of uncertainty, God invites us to lay down our burdens and trust Him to fill us with a peace that guards our hearts and minds. [18:49]
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Reflection: What is one fear or worry you need to release to God today? Take a moment to name it before Him and ask for His peace in exchange.
Giving is more than a financial transaction; it is a spiritual act of resistance against the idols of comfort, control, and self-centeredness. When we give sacrificially and generously, we declare that our devotion belongs to Jesus and not to the patterns of this world. Generosity shapes our hearts, aligns our priorities with God’s, and opens us to experience the joy and peace that come from trusting Him fully—even when it requires sacrifice. [29:39]
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (ESV)
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
Reflection: Is there an area where God is inviting you to be more generous—whether with your resources, time, or love? What step can you take today to give as an act of devotion and trust?
True restoration is not just about rebuilding structures but about God renewing His people from the inside out. As we allow God to “shake” our hearts—letting go of fears, idols, and misaligned priorities—we make room for His glory to shine through us. This ongoing process of spiritual formation and surrender is where God’s presence is most powerfully revealed, both in our lives and in our community. [32:14]
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Reflection: What is one thing—an attitude, habit, or priority—that God may be asking you to surrender so that His glory can shine more fully through you? How will you lay it before Him today?
As we stand on the threshold of restoring a historic church building in DC, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of physical transformation—choosing colors, imagining new spaces, and dreaming of what’s to come. Yet, I’ve learned through years of home renovations that changing the exterior doesn’t automatically change what’s inside. The same is true for us as a church: we can create a beautiful building, but if we neglect the restoration of our hearts, we risk missing the very presence and peace of God that we long for.
God’s presence does not dwell in stone, wood, or paint, but in His people. This is the heartbeat of our “restore” season: as we restore God’s house, we pray that God would restore His people. The story of Haggai 2:9 reminds us that the glory of the present house will be greater than the former, not because of its grandeur, but because of God’s presence filling it. The Israelites, returning from exile, were discouraged by the new temple’s lack of splendor compared to Solomon’s. Yet God’s promise was not about the building’s appearance, but about His glory and peace dwelling among His people.
The true restoration God desires is deeper than walls and altars—it’s about reshaping hearts, realigning priorities, and restoring a people to Himself. The vision God gave me in Scotland—a heavy cloud of darkness over our city, pierced by the radiant glory of God rising both from above and within His people—reminds me that God’s glory is not just something we receive, but something we participate in. In Christ, the veil is torn, and God’s presence now dwells within us. We are the house of the Lord, each of us a temple of the Holy Spirit.
As we move forward, we must remember that restoring a building and restoring God’s people are inseparable. If we focus only on the structure and neglect the spiritual formation of our community, we risk missing the very thing that makes the house glorious: Christ revealed through His people. The promise of Haggai is not just glory, but peace—a peace that only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can bring. This peace is not manufactured by our efforts, but received as we surrender our fears, worries, and idols to Him.
Generosity, then, becomes an act of resistance—a declaration that our hearts belong to Jesus, not to comfort or the patterns of this world. As we prepare for Commitment Sunday, let us allow God to shake up anything in us that hinders His glory, laying down our fears and misaligned priorities so that His presence might shine through us, both in our new building and in our lives.
Haggai 2:9 (ESV) — > “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.”
Colossians 1:27 (ESV) — > “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) — > “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.”
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