SUMMARY: No games
OVERVIEW: Jesus turned the tables over in the temple courts. The people had shifted their focus from worship to business.
BIG IDEA: Love God, worship him, and help others do the same.
KEY VERSE: Mark 11:15–16 (Jesus overturns tables)
When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace.
IF GOD WROTE YOU A LETTER
I don’t want anything to hinder your worship. Part of worshipping is leading others to worship me. Get rid of any barriers in your life that might impede your connection with me or keep unbelievers from being attracted to me. People who do not yet believe are watching you very closely. Stay away from people who have turned their faith into a profit center for personal gain. When unbelievers see others using religion as a way to make themselves look good or gain power or wealth, they will get the wrong impression about what it means to follow me.
I have life, grace, mercy, forgiveness, encouragement, strength, and purpose for you today. My love brings order to your chaos. Don’t settle for any substitutes. Don’t be satisfied with cheap imitations. Demand what is real, eternal, and life-giving. Hunger for me and enjoy being in my presence. You don’t have to search high and low to find me. Call on me and be still—I am with you.
NEXT STEP
Don’t lose your focus. Remain faithful to God and put him first today. Set your watch or phone alarm to go off in the middle of your day. Use that as a way to remind you to refocus on God and his love for you and others.
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