The peace of the Lord be with you all! I want to thank Papa District Minister and the Distrit Session Council for the opportunity to lead the devotion. I am grateful! As we start today's business, I want us to reflect on the theme: Be a Temple Fit for Christ.
Backgound
Dearly beloved, I believe by now you know that the Passover is one of the most important Jewish festivals that commemorating the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Jews from all over the region traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate it, resulting in large crowds at the temple.
Remember that the Jerusalem temple was the central place of worship for Jews. This temple held profound religious significance, symbolizing God's presence among His people.
This time Jesus Christ sawthe temple were bustling with activity, including the selling of animals for sacrifices and money-changing services. Pilgrims needed animals for sacrifices and had to exchange their foreign currency for the local currency required for the temple tax.
1. Jesus examined the Temple
Remember it was commerce activity that happens yearly but as the celecrations go by year by year, they drew closer to the temple gradually turning the temple into a market place. This was the condition of the central temple built by King Solomon.
Upon examination of the temple, Jesus saw that it was no longer fit for the purpose of which it was built.
Jesus saw the temple has lost it value and significance and so He drove them out of them temple, cleaning it for the purpose it was built for.
In the same way, our bodies are temples of the Lord, as stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Just as Jesus was angered by the misuse of the physical temple, He is also displeased when we misuse our bodies through sin and neglect. Instead, our bodies should be dedicated to God's service.
Dearly beloved, What is the condition of your body as the temple of the Lord? If examined, what elements would be seen in there? Will Christ see the element of hatred, unforgiveness, fornication / adultery, wickedness, sabotage or what
Dearly beloved remember that upon becoming a Christian, you become a dwelling place of the Lord Jesus. It is of utmost importance, then, to examine the body regularly to see if it is a temple fit for Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus took action to cleanse the temple. While we often think of Jesus as gentle and meek, in this passage we see Him display righteous anger and take action against wrongdoing. He drove out the merchants and money changers, overturned their tables, and poured out their coins.
When we encounter wrongdoing and sin in our lives or in the world, let us not turn a blind eye. Instead, let us follow Jesus' example and take action to stand up for what is right and honor God in all that we do. I always illutrate how sin easily kills our consciouness because we have turned a blind eye. Sin is like a hot tea scenario
3. Living as Temples in the World
Lastly, as temples of the Holy Spirit, we are called to honor Christ in all aspects of our lives. We must resist the merchants and money changers of our modern world, such as materialism and distractions, that can lead us away from God.
Let us reflect on the consequences of neglecting our temple and allowing worldliness to contaminate our devotion to God. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, let us cleanse our lives and hearts to create a temple fit for Christ.
In conclusion
let us commit to maintaining a temple that is fit for Christ. Let us examine our lives and commit to spiritual cleansing, ensuring that our bodies and lives reflect a temple worthy of the presence of Jesus. May we constantly seek God's guidance and live in a way that honors Him in all that we do.
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, help us to keep our temples clean and pure for Your glory. Guide us to live in a way that honors Christ in all that we do. May our lives be a testament to Your goodness and grace. In Jesus' name, amen.
Thank you for joining me in this morning devotion. May God bless you and keep you as you strive to be a temple fit for Christ. Amen._
