Monday with Madi: Clearing Your Court

Have you ever felt like you were doing ALL the hard work, everything you were supposed to do and were right where God wanted you, when “boom!” in an instant He changed everything?

How do we handle those times?

I can definitely say being in this situation has frustrated me multiple times, but the end results are like nothing like I expected.

In my Bible, the heading at John chapter 2 says ‘Jesus Clears the Temple Courts’. When I read this story, it hit me straight on.

The Jewish people had been using the temple courts as a market, selling what they had to offer there. When Jesus finds out, He tells them He doesn’t want His Father’s house used in this way. They needed to get rid of it all. The religious people reply saying how should they believe that He is truly in authority. “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” He said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple and you’re going to raise it in three days?” They replied John 2:19-20. (NIV)

As the story continues, Jesus explains He is speaking of the temple of His body. He was the true source of life for these people, but instead, they were using His holy area as a way to make profit for themselves, completely missing the main goal of its’ real purpose.

As the story continues Jesus shows and explains to these people what He means about Himself being the temple. He continues on to lead many to his Father and the road He has planned out for them.

What stood out to me more than anything was the fact that what took these people 46 years…took Jesus 3 days.

Now here is the key: God, being able to move through us, has everything to do with how quickly we allow Him to move within us; how quickly we obey.

What is God calling you to completely rid yourself of so that there can be room for Him? There are so many examples in my life when if I would’ve just listened to God the first time I could’ve saved myself so much time and energy. I could’ve been using all those days of worrying and anxiety, even though He told me He had it under control, to be furthering myself and investing more in Him.

It can feel devastating when at first we sense we are to set down something we have been working on for years in order to push towards what feels like God’s unknown. We are hoping God really does have our back and best in mind. Then, I remember He is the one that sees my future and where I will be, not me.

God never shows us something or someone great and amazing only for it to be taken from us, unless there is something better in store. Our God is a God of love, and He can show us all He has in store. Then He can fulfill the potential He has called us to. Where this can all start, is when we do our part, agreeing that we have been using God’s place in our heart for what we want, instead of on Him. Then, we can give those things to Him knowing that whatever He brings will be ten times more beneficial then what ever lies behind.

Lynn