John 2:13-17
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!" His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."
The temple was supposed to be a place where people worshipped, praised and pleaded to God, but at that time the temple was filled with sounds of trading. Actually, it was a good service to trade money and cows, goats and doves in in the temple, because when the Israelites went to the temple they needed to exchange money and buy cows, goats and doves with no blemish in order to sacrifice them to God. Bach then, however, the traders and priests conspired again the people; when people brought livestock from out of town, they would say that the livestock had blemish; in order word, they were forcing those from out of town to buy the livestock in the temple.
What was meant to be a good service was corrupted because the traders valued their business more than they valued God's will, and they valued money more than God's blessing. Their faith had turned from God-centered to people-centered. Therefore, Jesus had to do the work of cleaning in the temple because our holy God could not tolerate the existence of sin. When light shines into a dark room, light will drive out darkness. Jesus Christ will bring forth blessings, but before His blessings He must first do some driving out and overturning.
Some said that Christians are weak not because the world is too evil, but because of the sins inside. Indeed, we often blame the fact that we live in a wicked world, but we don't see how much we fall short of God. So many Christians are feeling good about their own lives, but do not see their own darkness. May God have mercy on us, because our faith is never about our way and our wish, but His way, His will and His plan. May God drive out any self-centeredness and disobedience; if our personality needs to be dealt with, and let God come and deal with it! If we are lacking eagerness for the Lord in our heart, let God revive us! Our God can drive out and overturn, but whatever He drives out and overturns, He will also rebuild, Hallelujah!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, I thank you, because not only do you have the power to overturn, and you will also rebuild. May you overturn and rebuild in our life, so that we may live according to your will. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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