Our submission is for Christ and to be like Christ. "In the same way..." means as Jesus submitted. Submission is not taking an inferior position. God created men & women in His own image. They were given the same instructions to subdue the world. As Jesus restores the world, there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female. Whatever is a strength for you, it should be a driver for respect not an opportunity to dominate and show power. It is important in our relationship with God.

Disunity can occur in churches but we are a people of hope, holiness and harmony. Our spiritual unity is found in oneness, not sameness. We are living stones, precious to Him and each individual stone needs a relationship with Christ. Together there is strength, aligning ourselves with Jesus. When a stone is missing from a building, it is noticed and missed. May we stand in the gap for people who do not know God, connecting others with Jesus.

As Christians, we have a living hope, because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, and an inheritance in heaven that will never perish, spoil or fade. Our faith is protected through the shield of God's power but can be tested in times of difficulty in our lives. We need to trust in Jesus in the tough times and turn these trials into triumphs. Where is your faith anchored? Is it strong in Jesus?

Zerubbabel is a governor of Judah, a humble servant of God, leading a struggling remnant. In the line of David, it must have been hard for this royal to see His people suffering, his city a ruin, his temple only a shadow of its former glory. God is sovereign over the surrounding nations and He will care for His people. Israel still had to wait many centuries for the Messiah but God always brings about His purposes. He is always moving towards salvation, always wants us to come to Him. Zerubbabel was one humble player in God's salvation plan for His people. We can become enslaved in our own pleasures and entangled in worldly wisdom, yet God saves us through His grace and mercy, not any goodness we may think we have. Look and see what God has done. Look ahead and trust in God for what He will do in the future of your life.

A healthy person cannot pass on their health to another, but germs can be passed on to others. In the same way, we cannot impart holiness to another but we can transmit sin and spread it, just like a sickness or virus. When the people in Haggai's time built for themselves and ignored the rebuilding of God's house, God withheld blessings and prosperity. When the people repented and turned away from living for themselves and aligned themselves with God's purpose, God blessed them. We need to remember that we serve Jesus, not to be saved, but because we are saved.