Christ Church Daily Devotion Nov 12 2023

Jesus enters the temple and drives out those who are selling. He says that the temple should be a house of prayer, not a den of robbers. Merchants at the temple were taking advantage of people by overcharging them for sacrifices. This injustice angers Jesus, as God is against injustice. Jesus wants the temple to be a place of prayer and for his followers to be people of prayer. To increase our commitment to prayer, we can join in worship and pray for those leading and participating in the services. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for November 12, 2023. Today we will be reading from Luke chapter 19, verses 45 through 46. When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. It is written, he said to them, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers. According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, this scene took place near the end of Jesus' ministry. Shortly after he rode into Jerusalem, on what we commonly call Palm Sunday, John places it near the beginning of his ministry. Jesus is angry that those who were supposed to be helping people were actually taking advantage of them. I know one preacher who fittingly called it a temple tantrum. When people traveled from distant lands to offer their sacrifice at the temple, rather than having to bring their sheep or other animal, merchants were there to sell them a sheep or a dove or some grain. And as is often the case, when someone has something to sell to somebody who they know desperately needs it, they often overcharge them. This was another case in a long human history of injustice. And the Bible is consistently clear that God gets angry when humans do injustice to each other. Jesus emphasized that the temple was to be a place of prayer. It was a place to connect with God. These robbers were allowing a different spirit to be present as the people came to the temple. Jesus wants not only God's house to be a place of prayer, but for his people to be a people of prayer, a people who are constantly in conversation with God and helping others connect with God. Part of our commitment to Jesus Christ as we share in ministering through his church is to be a people of prayer. What might you do to increase your commitment to be a person of prayer? Join us for worship this morning, either at 930 or 1115. If at all possible, be there in person. If not possible, join in online at some point and pray for all who lead and participate in our worship services, that we all may be drawn closer to God and each other.