TLIC FAMILY. DAY 108. APRIL 18: FORMER GLORY?

THINK TOGETHER

Do you know what nostalgia is? What are mom and dad nostalgic for?

READ TOGETHER

When King David’s son, Solomon was the king of Israel he built a huge and beautiful temple for God. It was massive and glorious, covered in gold, and decorated with all kinds of awesome designs. But when the Babylonian army came and destroyed the city of Jerusalem, they also destroyed Solomon’s temple. Even today all that is left of Solomon’s temple is one part of one wall. Then, after 70 years in Babylon, the Jewish people were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple for God. Yay!

But when the people started to rebuild the temple, they soon realized that it would not be nearly as big, or as beautiful as Solomon’s Temple. At firs this made them sad. Then it made some of the people angry. Little by little the people decided to give up on the new temple all together. Oh no!

So God sent his prophet Haggai (can you find Haggai in your Bible) to talk to the people. Listen to what Haggai told them:

Haggai 2:3&9. ³‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?  ⁹I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts…The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former…And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.

God is telling the people to not be sad or angry or afraid just because they think something used to be better in the past. He’s telling them to look forward, to keep moving, to think about what is coming in the future. He’s telling them to have hope! Why? Because the best is yet to come.

Have you ever been sad because things aren’t as good as they used to be? We can learn the same lesson God taught his people through Haggai. We can learn to have hope for what is ahead of us in life. Why? Because with Jesus the best is always yet to come. One day he will come back for us and take us to live with God forever. Every day will be better than the day before. The best will always be yet to come!

Because of Jesus I know the best is always yet to come.

With Jesus I can always be excited about tomorrow.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Sing the song Bound for Glory together.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, I can’t wait to live with you and God forever and ever. Amen.