Monday, April 14, 2014

Cleansing the temple

And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.  Mark 11:15-18

The day after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus visits the temple. He was extremely displeased with what He saw, men selling animals for sacrifices, people using the temple and courtyard like they would a market place. People were carrying vessels through the temple, using the temple as “a shortcut” maybe to get to another section of the city.

We are appalled when we read what the people of this time were doing. Some might say, “I would never do anything like that in God’s house”. “I am always respectful when I’m in church.”

Are you? Are you always respectful with God’s temple? Do you treat God’s temple the way He wants it treated? In the Old Testament the temple of God was referring to the physical building where the people worshiped and sacrificed. In the New Testament the temple of God is referring to us, our bodies. We are the temple of God.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Corinthians 3:17 

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1Corinthians 6:19 

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16 

These verses are very convicting. What we put on, put in, put around our bodies does affect the temple of God. It does affect our relationship with God.

What do we put into the temple today? Our temple is not meant to have “other things” clutter it up. Is the temple of our heart being shared with “idols”. An idol is anything we put before God. Do we make excuses for why we can’t read the Bible, but have time to read everything else. I know I have been there.  Pray and ask the Lord to help you keep His temple clean.

 Have a blessed day, 
Donna

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