And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” Matt 21:12,13
This past week during our staff devotion we spent time in Matthew 21:12-17. The above verses struck me personally. Pastor Larry asked us, “Why did Jesus react the way He did?” Great discussion ensued and we all agreed that His house became a house of selfish gain and no longer was it a house of prayer. It was no longer a house of worship. It was a temple that defiled God and dismissed the worship He deserved. God’s house, His temple was purposely dishonored.
As the discussion continued, God began to speak to me. He took me back to a book in His word that I have been in the past few months, 1 Corinthians. I was instructed to land on verses 19 and 20 in chapter 6. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” The Holy Spirit clearly told me, “You are My temple. I dwell in you and you have now become My house of Worship. Don’t ever forget that you are no longer your own. You were bought with a price and everything you do you must glorify Me in your body.”
So here is where the spiritual re-molding began. I asked God to begin to “overturn the tables” in this temple. Begin to clear away that which is selfish and self-centered. Turn over the tables which defile Him and dishonor His Name. What in my life, in my body, in His Temple, is an abomination to Him?
Think about what those tables look like. Not just my tables, yours too. We have tables of apathy, of jealousy. We have tables that are beautifully adorned and wonderful to look at; however, they are those of arrogance and pride. We also have tables of unforgiveness, of rage and anger. We have tables of sexual sin and lust. How about the tables that are covered in linens of lace but hold gossip and condemnation towards other followers of Christ who are hurting? I think we all get the picture.
So as I ask God to begin to “overturn the tables” in my life, to cleanse His temple, I must also be willing to open those doors and be obedient to what He reveals and removes. I must never forget, as a follower of Jesus Christ, that my body is not my own and it was bought by the precious life of Him. My body is now His Temple and I must daily glorify Him through it. It is spiritually painful, yet spiritually refreshing.
Now, are you willing to ask Jesus to “overturn tables” in you?
PURSUIT OF MARRIAGE 