Carina Francke

Scripture: Mark 11:17: "And as he taught them, he said, Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers."

During a visit to the temple, Jesus overturned the tables and benches of the money changers and merchants who were buying and selling there. The Jews' greediness made it difficult for people to worship in the temple, but even worse, they themselves were not practicing religion anymore. They were so blinded that they could not even discern that the Messiah moved, work and ministered amongst them. Jesus revealed their spiritual apostasy when He said, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers."

Jesus' words link to Jeremiah's sermon to the Israelites in Jeremiah 7:3-11: The nation's ways and actions were not right (v5) - they didn't deal justly with people, they served other gods and they stole from others, committed adultery and spoke deceptively. But the worst of all was that they still believed that they were safe as long as they stood before God in his house (v9-11). No wonder He asked them, "Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you?" (v11)

After Jesus' death and resurrection the temple of God is not a physical building anymore, but people - people who by their faith in Jesus Christ have become His temple, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? (1 Corinthians 3:16) Yes, people became God's house, no, even better, His temple!

If we are His temple, today's portion of Scripture tells us that we should be people of prayer to the core of our innermost being. Communication with Him ought to be an integral part of every little detail of our lives. People of prayer cannot but live in integrity and honesty before Him. Our practicing of religion should be a confirmation of our intimate relationship with Him from our spirit and heart - it should never be diluted by mere religious rituals.

Prayer is a two way communication - I talk to God and He talks to me. His words, though, always   brings change about in my life, because the Holy Spirit constantly reveals  those things in my Iife that defiles His temple and stand in the way of my complete surrender to His will.

Prayer: My heavenly Father thank you for Your involvement in my life. May I be so attentive and sensitive to Your dictation in my heart that every fibre of my being will react to even the gentlest whisper of Your voice. Amen