March 03

Thursday, March 3

Mark 11:15-17: Jesus Cleanses the Temple

What must it have felt like for Jesus to witness the commercialization of
worship? Instead of the temple being a place aiding Jews in bringing
their best to the Lord, it had become a dearth of shortcuts, profit seeking,
and unruly commerce. The prophet Malachi helps us understand God
cares far more about our hearts than the mode of worship. Paul teaches
we are the temple in the New Covenant (1 Cor. 6:19), and if the temple
is to be a house of prayer, what should that make us? It would be easy to
judge the religious leaders of the day as blatantly wrong, but maybe we
should ask, what might get in the way of living as His temple today?
Jesus’ response to what had become of the temple is also an invitation to
draw near, to let His Spirit stir within us that which needs to be cleansed
by His blood.

Spend some time inviting God to search your heart. Listen to what He
brings to mind,. Celebrate how you see Him at work. Confess that
which needs dealt with, confident He is ready to forgive you and use
you.

Let the Lord draw you into a deeper heart of worship in your prayer life
and in your daily lifestyle. Remember, when Christ looks at you, He
sees one who is righteous because He is righteous. We’ve been fully
cleansed by His finished work. And that truth must cause us to worship