Wednesday
August 26, 2009
A HOUSE OF PRAYER
Jesus went into the temple courtyard and threw out everyone who was buying and
selling there. He overturned the moneychangers' tables and the chairs of
those who sold pigeons. He told them, "Scripture says, 'My house will be called
a house of prayer,' but you're turning it into a gathering place for thieves!"
Blind and lame people came to him in the temple courtyard, and he healed them.
When the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing miracles he performed
and the children shouting in the temple courtyard, "Hosanna to the Son of
David!" they were irritated. They said to him, "Do you hear what these children
are saying?"
Jesus replied, "Yes, I do. Have you never read, 'From the mouths of little
children and infants, you have created praise'?"
He left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.
Matthew 21:12-17
In my New Testament class at Samford, the professor talked about the wedding
feast in Cana, and the following temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. He
made a statement I will never forget, "Following every accomplishment you will
have, every victory in Jesus, there will be a time of testing. If it was
so for our Savior, it will be so for us." Very profound and also very relevant
for today's scripture reading.
Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly. The people were singing Hosanna to Him
and throwing garments in His path in reverence, but all too soon the triumphant
spirit is gone, and the attacks begin. Yet, Jesus stands firm on God's Word, He
knows the right word for every question. He will not be tricked or fooled.
We too can have the same confidence in God's Word, we can have wisdom for every
situation in which Satan tries to tempt us or steal our joy in the Lord.
The emphasis Jesus placed on prayer should compel us to pray. Time after time
Jesus went away to "a quiet place to pray." Here He is, God incarnate, and
still He feels the need to pray. This alone should be our example, our call to
prayer, but today's lesson shows us that He also wants His temple - His
church - to be a "house of prayer."
It is easy to ask for prayer for someone who is sick or dying, but how often do
we request prayer for friends or family members who may be depressed, struggling
with alcohol, or marital problems? Why? We are afraid of the shame these things
bring. As God's children, we should have no fear. We should boldly come
before the throne of grace and share with other Believers these problems too.
Let's pray today that we will be like the children Jesus is referring to,
unashamed to praise the name of the Lord, and considering His church to be a
place
where our deepest, heartfelt needs can be prayed for. Pray that more people
will have a desire to pray from the heart.
Oh, Father, we may not buy and sell in Your Temple these days and cheat each
other in that way, but Lord, there are other ways that we cheat one another.
We cheat each other by not being truthful about the pain we carry inside, the
pain that is going on inside our homes. Our families are falling apart. Our
children are choosing alternate lifestyles, using drugs, and making the choice
just to live their life with a mate instead of marrying. Father, help us.
There is mental illness everywhere, but we can't share that, or we're ashamed
to. Oh, God, please help us. Give us hope for this journey we are traveling
today. Glory to Your Name! Hallelujah, Praise the Lamb!
O. Addison Gethers
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