Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, August 2, 2016

We are focusing on getting to know God from the perspective of John the beloved.

Today’s Scripture Focus: “After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.” (John 2:12).

Have you ever experienced a love so tender, true, and powerful that stops at nothing to keep its loved ones safe? This kind of love does not regard personal comfort or convenience when there is a threat of undue pain for a child, spouse, parent, or the helpless. This kind of love has empowered a petite mother with extreme, sudden energy to lift large fallen tree branches that threatened to crush the fragile legs of her daughter, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This kind of love caused a responsible father to run into a burning house to rescue his sleeping son before it was too late, without regard for the burns he suffered in the process. These are a microcosm of the divine strength that is manifested in the love of God for us.

Jesus had just performed His first miracle, which moved Him from a place of obscurity to a very public ministry. He blessed wedding attendees with His presence and contributed to their joy by turning water into wine. After the joyous occasion, He went to Capernaum with his family and disciples. In preparation for the special day of Passover, Jesus went into the temple. What happened next was incredible: Instead of experiencing the solemnity and thanksgiving appropriate for the temple courts, He witnessed bedlam. Instead of seeing the locals assisting weary travelers to prepare for sacrifices and worship, He saw widespread extortion and advantage being taken of the poor. The house of God, which was intended to be a house of prayer for all people, had become a den of thieves. With the zeal of love and holy indignation, Jesus abruptly chased away the wicked thieves and violently turned over their tables. He could not stand idly by and just watch anything or anyone get in the way of other’s worship.

Is there anything in the way of your worship today? If you have heavy burdens weighing you down, let the powerful Savior carry them for you. If people or trials are impeding your way, call on the Lord, and let Him move them out of your way. He would rather send legions of angels to your aid than allow anything to disrupt your ability to commune with Him in peace so you can be an effective change agent in your community.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)