May 16, 2016
“Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text: ‘My house was designated a house of prayer; You have made it a hangout for thieves.’ Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.” Matt. 21:12-14 Message
There wasn’t room for them. Little by little they had been crowded out. And then Jesus created the space for their lives. Instead of adding to the space .. he eliminated all the cluttering commerce of god-business. He didn’t condemn business. He condemned those who would steal from ‘the broken .. the battered .. and bruised’. The temple was exchanged from a place to the space in your heart .. where thieves still try to steal from you. They try to steal your time .. your hope .. your peace .. and your offering. They steal your time by drowning you in noise and distraction. They steal your hope by whispering you aren’t good enough and haven’t tried hard enough to get God’s attention. They steal your peace by selling fear and shame. They steal your offering .. your life .. by saying over and over that Jesus isn’t relevant anymore. They try but Jesus has exchanged your sin-weary .. sin-stained .. sin-bankrupt life for His life. And He’s left currency that never loses it’s value: “this bread and this cup”. His offering becomes your offering. Jesus has designed your life .. your heart and mind .. to be a house of prayer. You no longer have “to go” somewhere to offer the Lord your gift .. your need .. or your request. In Christ, there is room .. grace-filled .. to live the life that God has designed in you. Jesus has done all the work. He’s simply asking and sometimes waiting for you to reach that place and moment where you throw open the door and invite Him to make a clean sweep of your life. It’s so easy to let it get cluttered with even good things. It only takes a moment …
“What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.” 1 Cor. 11:25-26 Message
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent to Christ Designed Prayer Houses (kchesterp1@gmail.com)
