Monday

Have you ever considered the Temple of The Lord? There were many different sections for different purposes and different people. The portion of the Temple that is mentioned in this passage is the Outer Court (Mark 11:15,) also known as the Court of the Gentiles. Some of the things that took place in the Outer Court was buying and selling. Animals were often sold here because the Jews needed them for their sacrificial offerings, and it was easier than running the risk of not passing the high Priest’s inspection. Money was also exchanged because they could only use shekels for currency. The High Priest and the other church officials were profiting off of the sacrifice and the people were taking advantage of one another in the Temple courts. Jesus said to them, quoting from Isaiah 56:7, “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
 
When we come to worship on Sunday, have we spent time with the Lord preparing our heart for worship? Are we surrendering all and letting God cleanse us, or are we bringing our sin, our idols, our expectations and holding on to them instead of laying them at the Father’s feet? If we are not careful, we will become like the people in the outer court. We may not sell pigeons or exchange money, but we do sell ourselves and exchange our devotion for things that are temporary. 
 
This Easter, take some time to prepare your heart and truly seek the Lord. Carve out some time in your everyday life to pray to God and dig into scripture. Some have said, “If you don’t schedule time for God in your life, your life will schedule God out.” It is very important for us to be intentional in our Faith. Many have sited this quote, “We don’t naturally drift toward holiness, we naturally drift toward sin.” Let us be a people who lean on God and put our faith and trust in Him. 

By: Casey Moore