When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them “My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.” Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. (Luke 19:45-48)
Hopefully the new Mega churches attract people by good preaching, ministries, and praise music. I’ve been to some that sell breakfast. I’m sure the proceeds go to a worthwhile ministry, and I’m not saying that it’s wrong if food is given to people who can’t afford it – just that the main focus of a church should be prayer – our relationship with God, not eating. During His last week of life, Jesus spent his time teaching because our relationship is also strengthened by studying God’s word. We should be able to hang on the words of our ministers when they preach a relevant sermon from God’s Word.
In the Book of John, Jesus began His ministry by changing water into wine at a wedding. Then Jesus went to Capernaum and visited the temple in Jerusalem. He made a whip and turned over tables, driving out those selling animals and money changers. Not much changed in the temple during the three years of Jesus’ ministry. They still sold animals for sacrifice and exchanged foreign money at inflated prices. Jesus drove them out once again.
Jesus teaches that the third step to leaving a bad habit or trait at the cross is to strengthen your relationship with God through prayer and studying God’s word.
Dearest Father God, my soul glorifies You, and my spirit rejoices in You because You bless me and are mindful of me. My trust grows in You as we build our relationship. Father, help me to set aside time to study Your word and remind me to pray each time I start a new thing during the day, so I can be mindful of you all day. I am leaving ____________ at the cross, and I can only do it with Your assistance, so please help me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
I will give God the Glory. I will trust Jesus to save me. I will let him fill me with love, peace and protection. I will try and pray more and more about things that I want to change in my life. I will try and take everything to God and not be so controlling, because I know that I can’t make change without God and Jesus.
Lord, please be with me as I take on new challenges in my life.
As I pray and decide, I am leaning toward taking on two challenges. In the past I’ve only done one at a time. Two may be too many and, if so, I’ll only leave one thing at the cross this time around. I wish to leave gluttony and agitation at the cross. Those are both things I know I can only do with God’s help. For right now I am praying about both of those things and placing them in God’s hands through this journey to the cross and beyond.