Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Jesus explains His actions after overturning the exchange tables and whipping the stall merchants in the temple. I think there could be more than one lesson associated with this event, but we must hold to first principles if we are going to be followers of Jesus. First things first.
When something is designed to be used in one way and it is used in another way, it is disrespectful to the designer. Some just don’t get it. They don’t see the choices they have made for themselves as being disrespectful. After all I have free will. What they fail to see is that the disrespect is felt by the designer, not the offender.
Ever been slapped across the face in front of others for showing disrespect? It is a waking moment, believe me. You get to see things in a different light. Suddenly what others think does matter. It is one thing to be wrong in a matter, it is another to be humiliated in that moment.
Too often we care more about what others think than what the designer thinks. Have we become so absorbed in the moment that we have forgotten our design? Do we understand our design? Have we examined our design? In reality, how can you respect your designer if you have no idea how you are design?
Ezekiel 43:11 (NASB) If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them.
2 Corinthians 6:16b for ye are the temple of the living God;
Do you not know your design?
Thank you for this very practical message this morning. It sure touched my soul….being brought up on a farm as an only child, my formative years were not conducive to thinking of others…..something that my dear wife has been working on for 57 years. She deserves a medal for her efforts.
I thank my Lord for His unconditional love to me, praise His Name.