Daughters of Promise Devotional
|
ZEAL FOR THE TEMPLE
He told those who were selling the doves, "Stop making my father's house a marketplace!" His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." John 2:16-17
The disciples heard Jesus' strong words of rebuke about the defilement of the temple and remembered the words from Psalm 69:9. "Zeal for your house will consume me." The Psalmist was foretelling the coming of the Messiah and his passion for the things of God. One of them would be the purification of the temple and the exposure of religiosity. Everything on the outside appeared holy that day but inside the system, it smelled of death and decay.
The temple was once a place where people came to worship, a place where the Spirit of God dwelt. Jesus told the Pharisees that everything changed with His coming to earth. Now, He was the temple and since His Spirit soon would dwell in the hearts of His followers, their bodies would also become the temple of God.
Jesus is adamant about temple purification. When I am consumed with my reputation and taking on holiness resembles playing a part onstage for desired effect, it is time to do some housecleaning. My life, His temple, can often be about glorifying myself and not the One who should be worshipped. The form is there, as it was on the day Jesus arrived to drive out the moneychangers. True worshippers were coming to obey the law, to offer sacrifices for their sins. Yet, the environment was infused with hypocrisy. Leadership was infected with greed and those who should have represented God executed abusive power plays.
As I look inside this temple today, I ask God to melt my heart and make His passion mine. Oh, that zeal for this temple would consume me completely.
Anywhere you are, Lord, is holy ground. Make my temple a holy place for You to dwell. May nothing in me defile it. I love Your presence. Amen
Christine Wyrtzen
Daughters of Promise |
|
Our ministry is expanding to include intensive prayer retreats for house meetings. If you are a women's leader and have a group of 20-25 women meeting in your home, and you would like to see them receive in depth training in strategic prayer, contact us for information on how you can sponsor this event.
Visit our website to read more about Personalized Prayer Mapping
For an informational flyer, write to: Elizabeth Guthrie
|
