Don’t Get Too Comfortable
“Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, “My Temple will be called a house of prayer,” but you have turned it into a den of thieves!’ The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David.’ But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ ‘Yes,’ Jesus replied. ‘Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, “You have taught children and infants to give you praise.”’ Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.”
Matthew 21:12-17, NLT
Many times, in life, we familiarize ourselves with people, places or things that we love. The love that is developed through consistency should never be taken for granted. Because they’re around you the most, or just because most of your day is spent in your office, doesn't mean that person or that place becomes less valued. It actually means the complete opposite. If we can depend on it, we should always respect it.
I believe what we find in these scriptures are people who have become normalized with the place that they love and, ultimately, lose respect for the temple’s purpose. Jesus comes to the temple not only to reprimand, but to reinforce the true actions that should be taking place in the temple. Jesus doesn’t spend much time being angry or correcting wrong doings, but immediately He gets to work. After stating the importance of the temple – it being “the House of Prayer” – He then heals the blind and the lame. Now, that’s how you show them better than you can tell them! After the work comes genuine praise from the innocent children around.
We may frequent the church as we do our country club, a local restaurant or even a movie theater, but the reverence for the place where we worship God and fellowship with God’s people should never be diminished.
When we find ourselves becoming too familiar with the things, places and people that we love, it's always best to follow the steps of Jesus. Reinforce the importance of why we love and immediately get to work to show others the sovereignty and power of God.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You have bestowed on our lives. You have provided us with more than we could ever have imagined. You have surrounded us with a church family who genuinely cares for one another. You have given us family and friends who bless us every day with kind words and actions. We are grateful for the many blessings that You have bestowed upon us. Help us to grow an even greater appreciation for the things, people and places we have familiarized ourselves with. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
