Turning The Tables

1-26-10

Devotion

Turning the Tables

John 2:13-22

Today’s devotion is one that deeply touches my heart and the heart of God. It is an important message about how He wants us to share His message, His truth, and His love. I pray you will take a few moments to go to the Father and ask Him to, first of all forgive you for any sin that you need to confess to Him so that you are clean and ready to hear and receive the truth of His word. When you have finished praying open your Bible to John 2:13-22 and read it out loud, than read the story below.

 

The homeless mission was all set up and ready for the coming cold weather.  Ice and snow was on its way and the director knew she had better hurry and prepare a safe warm place for the many homeless people living on the street in her city.  Day and night she worked to make sure everything was in its place and all the supplies were stocked.  Now all she had to do was wait. 

 

It was 3:30pm and Joyce needed to leave and get dinner ready for her own family; she would be back before the doors opened to feed.  When she reached her home her children ran to her with open arms, smiling to see her.  She had worked so hard on the homeless mission in the past week that her family had not seen her much.  She cooked dinner and sat down with her husband and children to enjoy the meal together.  However, her time at home would be interrupted by a knock on the door.  It was a police officer and he was there to tell her there was an emergency at the mission and she needed to hurry and get back there right away.

 

As Joyce pulled up to the mission she couldn’t believe her eyes.  There were people everywhere and they were pushing and shoving each other as they fought for sweaters, coats and shoes that lined the tables in front of the entrance.  “Where are my helpers?” she thought to herself.  What is going on here? Then as she walked past the people and into the shelter she stopped and just stared in disbelief.  Right before her eyes were tables of warm clothes that were being sold to the homeless people.  Joyce’s anger began to boil.  Then without warning she marched toward the tables and began to turn them over and the clothes came crashing to the floor. The small boxes where the money was kept went up into the air and than back down, flinging the money in all different directions.  Everyone was shocked and came to a sudden stillness, when Joyce said.  “I built this place to help the pour and homeless free of charge, not to take advantage of their needs. You have made it a place of profit like a den of thieves. This is not a place to sell merchandise but it is a place to give and share the love of God. 

What do you think about the way Joyce responded to seeing her workers selling the clothes instead of giving them away? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does the story above show you how important it is to use things for what they were created for?  If so; How? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Now go back and take another look at the book of John, 2^nd chapter verses 13-22.  When you have finished, answer the questions below.

Where was Jesus? ___________________________________________________

Why was He there? __________________________________________________

What did He find in the temple? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did Jesus respond to seeing all the selling going on in His church? ________________________________________________________________________

Why did He get angry? _____________________________________________

What did He do to all the tables? ________________________________________________________________________

Write down verse 16 and let it sink into your mind.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Now ask yourself this important question.  Am I living my life of service so that it brings God glory and not gain for me? _______________________________________________________________________

Is my church serving the Lord or making a profit off of Him? _______________________________________________________________________

Jesus did not want His temple used for personal gain.  We are the temple of God, our bodies house His Spirit and so we need to keep our hearts souls and minds clear and clean.  What is in your life today that needs to be removed?  What are you doing that dishonors our Lord?  Whatever it is, if it does not honor God, remove it, because your life will be a whole lot better and purer because of it.  Let’s not make our lives, lives of merchandise, selling our thoughts, idea, dreams and our giving for a price. Let’s not put a price on sharing the Gospel, teaching His word, expressing His heart of love or bringing words of encouragement.  There is too much of this going on in our churches today, within our Christian communities.  

 

Re-read John 2:12-22

 

Use the gifts and talents God has given you to bring Him glory. Don’t allow Him to walk into your life or into your church and see you misusing His temple.  Will He look at your lives, your churches and say well done good and faithful servant or will He come in shouting and turning the tables?