stand for something
- Day 2 -
today's scripture
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.
JOHN 2:13â€-‬16 NASB
devotional
In the second half of John 2, we catch up with Jesus at the Passover celebration. He comes face to face with a makeshift market that unfolded in the temple complex.
Imagine with me here:
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The bird dealers set up shop.
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The sheep guys march in their flock.
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Then, before you know it, the oxen dudes line the temple of the Lord with the bullshit that follows.
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Why was Jesus so passionate about driving them out? You see, these things acted as barriers to intimacy for the gentile believers that could not go further into the temple complex. They had to share the courts of the temple with these distractions.
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The Bible tells us that Jesus "made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple."
Now I know what you're asking:
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How did it get this bad? How do people with a relationship with the Lord allow things to get to this point? Why didn't other religious leaders do anything? But before we go on and cast judgement, we have to be mindful that, although we don't want to admit it, many of us do these same things in our lives!
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Instead of doves lining the temple of our hearts, a tweet here and there gives way to a girl that should have never been there.
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Instead of a flock of sheep, we allow a flock of people into our lives that aren't the best of influences.
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Before you know it, we are dealing with more bullshit than the oxen dudes that Jesus confronted.
We allow things to sneak into our lives and remain unchecked. Then, we numb our hearts and grow calloused to the convictions of the Spirit.
When Jesus took an aggressive stance against the things that were hindering intimacy with the Father, I think he was showing us this simple principle:
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You must either stand for something, or you will fall for anything.
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You either stand for keeping the temple of your heart pure and rid of distractions or anything and everything will seem just.
If Jesus showed up to the steps of the temple of your heart, what would He find? Would he find that you have maintained clear boundaries and that you are devoted to pureness of heart, or would he find that you gave way to some things here and there?
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Jesus built a scourge of cords to drive these things out. Will you let Him?
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Continue to march!
