June 10, 2016

JESUS IS SERIOUS ABOUT CLEANING HOUSE

Mark 11:15–26

Jessica Gober
Friday's Devo

June 10, 2016

Friday's Devo

June 10, 2016

Central Truth

Jesus cares tremendously about His Temple, the worship of all the nations, the hearts of the leaders of His people, and where those leaders lead His people.

Key Verse | Mark 11:17

And he was teaching them and saying to them, “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)

Mark 11:15–26

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “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.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they 1 11:19 Some manuscripts he went out of the city.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received 2 11:24 Some manuscripts are receiving it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” 3 11:25 Some manuscripts add verse 26: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses

Footnotes

[1] 11:19 Some manuscripts he
[2] 11:24 Some manuscripts are receiving
[3] 11:25 Some manuscripts add verse 26: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses

Dive Deeper | Mark 11:15–26

Honestly, I'm not a fan of cleaning house—especially ones built of wood and brick. However, as a believer of Jesus, my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit: “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.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Also, I became a part of the royal priesthood: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) With this comes much needed care, diligence, and responsibility; not just for myself, but for those the Lord brings into my path.   

When I read these verses, I find it almost impossible not to take an inventory. Is there any courtyard in my person not dedicated to worshiping the Lord and accomplishing His purposes? Do my dealings draw people to worship Him, or am I participating in corruption like the “den of robbers” who claim to love God but whose actions harm and turn away others from worshiping Him? Are my branches producing buds and fruit, or am I like the fig tree in this passage that had leaves but no fruit? If the latter, some tables need to be overturned.

As I mentioned, I love a good competition. Before Jesus, this was not always a fun thing about me, especially if the competition was personal. Despite my claims, I didn't have a true relationship with the Lord. I imagine my old competitive spirit didn't compel anyone to want to know my God more. In fact, I'm sure it turned people away. Though I still love a good competition, that courtyard of my life is free from the robbers that once did business there. They do often try to set up shop again, but that is when Jesus and I clean house.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever prayed Psalm 139:23-24 for yourself? If not, I would encourage you to do that. "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" 

2. We have an enemy who desires to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Do you have questions that you challenge yourself with to ensure you are on guard, taking a regular inventory of your temple, and not allowing the enemy to gain a foothold in any area of your life?

3. Sometimes, it can be difficult to see clearly the areas of our own life that are not in line with what the Lord would have for us. Do you have others in your life who are willing to speak truth in love regarding these areas? If not, consider stepping into a Christ-centered community group.