My Daily Pause

Christ driving the Traders from the Temple – ~1600 – El Greco (1541–1614)

Jesus was A.N.G.R.Y!

And rightly so.

Can you imagine how threatened the moneychangers must have felt when a young and buff man with a whip came tearing through the temple? (John 2:13-22) It certainly made a lasting impression, because the Sadducees were out to get him from then on.

Jesus tends to get caricaturized as a soft and gentle man. That was not always true, as we see in this event. Our Lord was not afraid to be forceful in defending his father or his father’s house.

Many that would criticize the Jews today for their treatment of the temple have little room to talk. Today we see church meeting houses mistreated both during services and other times.

Depending on the denomination or liberality of the congregation we see:

• Cake sales
• Dances
• Sports
• Secular or para-Christian ceremonies
• Amusement for children during worship
• Theatrical productions

…the list goes on.

I don’t want to say that our modern meeting houses are in any way like the Jewish temples. We have no scriptural basis for our buildings to be considered holy. The building is just a house.

But… would Jesus care about what was happening inside a house with his name on it? When the world looks in from the street, would they see only what Jesus would approve of?

If we look at 2 John 1:8-11, we get the right answer:

We do not allow the things that Jesus would not teach in our house. (2 John 1:10)

Even greeting them that would bring it makes us participants! (2 John 1:11)

Challenge: What is going on in your meeting house that would make Jesus angry?

On the Road to Emmaus – ~1310 – Duccio (1260–1318)

They were a little reluctant to believe.

And why not? The prophesy of the Messiah rising from the dead was something they knew would happen, but were they supposed to believe it was happening right before them?

Jesus called the two on the road to Emmaus foolish for doubting. (Luke 24:25) They had been taught this stuff all their life. They knew he was out there teaching and doing miracles. They knew this was all supposed to happen just like it did.

Even for his disciples, it was a lot to take in.

Sometimes we are reluctant like that. We read and study the Bible, learn what God can do for us, receive his blessings – and then doubt.

• We are reluctant to pray for what we really need.
• We are amazed when the prayers are answered.
• We are reluctant to pray the next time we are in need.

And so the cycle goes.

A little faith goes a long way. (Luke 17:6) Take what you have by nurturing it through study (Romans 10:17) and use it to do great things for the Lord. (Hebrews 11:6)

Christ in the Garden – ~1600 – Caravaggio (1571-1619)

The first thing he thought to do was pray.

Really hard.

As the time approached for Jesus to be captured, he took time out to be with God. (Luke 22:39-46)

And why would the Son of God need to pray?

• It was comforting.
• It let God know he comes first.
• It let God know what Jesus thought he needed.

Jesus knew he had to go through the crucifixion, but he asked God to reconsider anyway. He left us this excellent example to show us that even when God isn’t going to change the course of events, he still has much to offer.

• He can offer us the strength to face challenges
• He can offer us the wisdom to complete the task
• He can offer us a peace only he can offer

Make it a habit to talk to God often through reverent prayer. It might be beneficial to have been a regular customer on the judgment day!

Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles – ~1310 – Duccio (1260–1318)

Power and position.

People have a natural disposition toward being the one in charge.

The apostles were no different. While they still had a misunderstanding of what Christ’s kingdom was going to look like, they were jockeying for high office within it. (Luke 22:24-30)

Christ doesn’t want leaders like that.

Leaders serve.

Leaders put themselves last.

Leaders suffer difficulty.

Leaders in the church have plenty of opportunity to fail. They are usually challenged every time they make a decision. Every decision makes someone angry.

It is no wonder that Paul said they deserve a double portion of honor! (1 Timothy 5:17)

Leadership done right in the Lord’s church is not about the position. It is about the souls they preside over. The Bible compares them to the shepherd protecting his flock.

When we seek to be Christian leaders, let’s be those that seek to wield the power as servants. Leaders that influence others toward salvation…

… Leaders that put the Lord and others first.

We are what we think about

Debauchery.

Drunkenness.

Worry.

In Luke 21, as Jesus is foretelling Jerusalem’s destruction and his return, he suddenly warns against these symptoms of lifestyle and what to do about them – Be careful of what weighs down your heart. (Luke 21:34)

At some point, our time will run out and all we will have is the stuff we are made of to offer up in the judgment. That offering will be the direct result of what we put in our heart.

God made our heart (or mind, or soul) in such a way that it returns exactly what we put in it. Fed one way, it returns the things Jesus warns about in Luke 21:34. Fed another way, we would be godly people able to avoid the “trap” of death.

In summary, we actually become what we think about.

Look at what the Proverb writer says:

Be careful what you think,
because your thoughts run your life.

Don’t use your mouth to tell lies;
don’t ever say things that are not true.

Keep your eyes focused on what is right,
and look straight ahead to what is good.

Be careful what you do,
and always do what is right.

Don’t turn off the road of goodness;
keep away from evil paths. – Proverbs 4:23-27 NCV

He is showing us that we have control over what we think about. Some may be out of practice, but we have the ability to feed our minds with good. When we do that, our decisions and conversations and attitude will begin to reflect godly things. The kind of things we want to present to Christ when he returns. (Luke 21:36)

Paul gave us a number of lifestyle directions in just about every letter he wrote. One of my favorite being Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. – Philippians 4:8 KJV

If Jesus comes right now, will your heart be full of what is in the Luke 21:34 warning or the Philippians 4:8 exhortation?