House of Prayer (Daily Encouragement Series)
HOLY WEEK: MONDAY
“Is it not written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? But you have made it a den of robbers.” – Mark 11:17
Jesus ultimately came to reconcile and restore our relationship with God. One of his first acts of “Holy Week” was to cleanse the temple. The leaders had made the temple tax a lucrative business which exploited those who were on pilgrimage to the Temple. He had looked around earlier (v/11) and “what he had seen..profoundly shocked him, namely the commercialism of the sanctuary of God.” (John Stott)
“(In the Old Testament) the temple not just the place for religion….the temple was the actual presence, the physical living presence of God in His glory among his people.” (Grant Osborne). And the leaders had turned it business. This cleansing then was “an act of judgement against Israel & it’s leaders” (Osborne).
The primary purpose of the the church, God’s people, is to be a house of prayer. A place where people experience the actual, living presence of the God.
I can write A LOT on where the church in our day has gone sideways and has become something other than a place to experience the presence of God. And I can also write A LOT about how the churches are just seeking to reach people who seem to what ANYTHING but the presence of God. It’s a church leadership issue and a people issue.*
So this Holy Week, I encourage you to SEEK GOD. To EXPERIENCE GOD. To KNOW GOD. That’s the point. That’s why Jesus came. That’s why Jesus died. That’s what we all need. That’s the thing that will bring comfort and rest in the midst of the troubles of the world.
So take time to pray. Take time to meditate on God’s word. Take time to talk with others about the meaning of Easter. Take time listen to God’s Spirit in you. Take time to experience the presence of God.
*See also Isaiah chapters 56-57