The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 20 January 2024 – Zeal For The Father’s House
TOPIC: Zeal For The Father’s House
READ: John 2: 13-25 (NKJV)
- Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
- And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business.
- When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.
- And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
- Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
- So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
- Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
- Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
- But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
- Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
- Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.
- But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all [men,]
- and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
THE MESSAGE:
While on earth, Jesus was an embodiment of zeal and passion for the things and the glory of God His Father. At a time when religion had been used by men for the purpose of self-glorification and attainment of selfish goals, Jesus came with a fresh approach to religion: The things of God should be handled with utmost zeal and passion, regardless of who or what is affected! On this occasion, He entered the temple at Jerusalem – a place dedicated to prayer and the worship of God – but which had been turned into a place for all kinds of abominable practices – approved, practised and encouraged by the religious leaders themselves! His zeal was stirred; His anger was kindled, and He would not let these things slide.
There is no doubt that if Jesus were to pay a visit in person to some of our services and programmes in our Churches today, He will still take up His whip against many abominable practices we engage in, in the name of religion. Do you consider the Church where God’s people meet regularly to pray and worship, your Father’s house? Do you still have your zeal intact? Do you wait to be begged, cajoled, intimidated or even manipulated before you visit your Father’s house to pray and worship? If God is truly your Father, then zeal for His house should consume you.
PRAYER: Father Almighty, may zeal for Your house consume me from now on. Amen.
