2/1/16: House of Prayer

  

When we move into a new space that has before been occupied by another, the first thing we do is clean house. We move all the old stuff out, get rid of the cobwebs, and clean things up so we can start fresh. If it’s a job situation wherein we have our own desk and office, we’ll replace the name on the door and the desk plate to reflect our own, the one who now holds the position. Only after the housecleaning has been done do we feel comfortable and effectually get on with the work at hand.

Jesus did much the same thing after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It’s not that He was new to His position, but the people were finally acknowledging Him as “the Son of David” and “He who comes in the name of the Lord” Matthew 21:9 (NKJ). The very next thing He did was clean house.

•  Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Matthew 21:12-13 (NKJ).

Yes, Jesus moved all the old stuff out – the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves – and put His name up on the door – “My house…”. Once the housecleaning was done, He effectively got on with the work at hand. “Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them” Matthew 21: 14 (NKJ).

We are the temple of God today. Our very bodies are where God has chosen to tabernacle with us. Revelation 21:3 says, “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God’” (NKJ). And 1 Corinthians 6:19 reads, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (NKJ).

God has moved in; allow Him to clean house. Nothing has changed; His message is the same in the temple that is your body: “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” Communion with you is a joy to the Lord, but the “money changers” must go.

In the devotional book entitled Magnificent Prayer by Nick Harrison, the February 1^st entry states, “There’s a special place in the heart of God that only you can fill. God is more than willing to be with you today. More than willing to hear your voice.” Only by remaining in communion with Him will we see our work for Him effectively achieved.

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©2016 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

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