“The RoseBouquet”

This turns out to be just two verses; somehow I remembered it being a longer passage. Yet a lot happens in this short description.

Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned their money tables and the stalls of those selling doves. He said, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.‘”

Do you find yourself right away visualizing this into a modern setting, like in a church? What would be a comparable situation?

People coming to worship could just as easily have changed money into the temple currency before they came in, or the temple could have converted the required giving into other funds, and taken care of the exchange when they went to deposit their funds. They were offering a service in a way and place so as to make money.

People could also have caught all the doves they needed for sacrifice out on the street with their bare hands. Doves are as plentiful and tame as houseflies. Again, the ecclesiastical crowd was merchandising in things for the sake of their own rules and income, and they were doing it right in God’s House of Prayer.

Maybe not all do it, but modern practices creep into churches, and people are charged for simple yet necessary things. The local church is fund raising in a rather secular way instead of counting on God’s people to give as part of their worship.

But what of seeing this on a more personal level? Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit if we have trusted Christ for salvation and sanctification. It should also be a “house of prayer.” Do we use it for other money-making ventures instead?

PRAYER: Lord God, Your temple, whether the one in Jerusalem, or our Christian meeting place, or our own human body, is meant to be a place of prayer and devotion to You. At least that’s what I learn here. Help me to drive out commercializations, and to return my body - Your temple - to a “house of prayer” state.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. You will love Ruthe’s Secret Roses if you like;
* walking and talking intimately with God
* stories of compassion and dramatic conversion
* have a bleeding, caring heart of your own
* are a caregiving older sister
* love designing clothes and make-overs
* love giving gifts and surprises
* are a mentor or counseling kind of friend.