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b'Have you ever felt discouraged about what God was doing in your life? If so, the little book of the Bible called Haggai has some encouragement for you. \\nGod sent Haggai, a prophet, to Jerusalem because His people living there\\u2014returned exiles from the land of Babylon\\u2014had abandoned attempts to rebuild God\\u2019s temple in order to build their own homes and grow crops. Haggai reminded them of their job in God\\u2019s kingdom: to rebuild a temple where God would dwell among them. Encouraged and empowered by God, the people began to build (Haggai 1:12-15).\\nBut as they worked, they grew discouraged. They compared this new temple with the glorious original one Solomon had built\\u2014one covered in gold and ornate wood. This new temple looked simple, normal, and even boring in comparison. So God sent Haggai with encouragement for the people, reminding the people He was with them (Haggai 2:4-5). Then, God made a promise: \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (Haggai 2:9).\\nThe people hearing these words for the first time must have felt overcome with awe. Their own sin had caused the destruction of the first temple. Yet God, in His grace and forgiveness, had promised to dwell with them and to bring His glory\\u2014His presence\\u2014back!\\nGod\\u2019s promise about that temple pointed to Jesus, who is God. He entered that temple, teaching and forgiving. He also compared the temple to His own body (John 2:18-22). And when He died on the cross and rose again, He made it so that all who put their trust in Him will dwell forever with Him\\u2014free from sin and death. In Christ, we are part of a kingdom where God in His glory dwells with us (John 1:14). \\u2022 Emily Saxe\\n\\u2022 Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 5:23-24. What does Jesus promise here? \\n\\u2022 Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Is salvation for sin and death something we can earn? What are we saved for? \\n\\u2022 How can the truths in the last two questions encourage you when you are feeling discouraged about the work God is doing in you? \\nMy Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid. Haggai 2:5 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nHebrews 11'