Prayer

A House of Prayer

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He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” Mark 11:17 NLT

Keeping church and state separate is even written into our U. S. constitution, but Jesus shows us that church and business should also be separate. Often, the pastors of large churches are criticized for their overzealous fund-raising appeals. But while we are criticizing them, we easily lose sight of the wheeling and dealing that can creep into our time of corporate worship. We must remind ourselves that church should never be the place we go to make business connections or to advance our financial position. Jesus called the temple of His day, “A house of prayer for all nations,” Interestingly, this is not the first time that Jesus did this. In the second chapter of John, we find a similar scene right at the beginning of His ministry. But after three years, those same money changers were back doing the same exact things. In His first visit, Jesus made an additional reference to the temple, that time calling it, “My Father’s house.” When we go to church, it is important to remember that though some denomination, or non-profit organization may have their name on the title, in God’s sight, the church is a place belonging entirely to Him and is to be used exclusively for prayer and worship.

This coming weekend is Palm Sunday, and the start of the festivities surrounding Easter. With all the hustle and bustle we have to consciously make the commitment to refocus and remember who this is all about. Why are we planning the things that we do? Who is it for? is there space to pause and reflect on the cross and resurrection morning? Just as in HIs day, they celebrated as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, but only a few days later the crowds began to chant, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Jesus came to give His life. Will He also find us pushing and shoving for financial advantage or forgetting Him in the midst of the busyness of special meals, egg hunts and purchasing of Easter outfits? Just as in His day, from the money changers in the temple, to the soldiers gambling for His clothing, many people missing seeing the value of God’s free and precious gift, as Jesus died to pay the price for our sins. But the good news is that story didn’t end on the cross. Just as He had said, three days later, very early on Sunday morning, Jesus rose, triumphant over death and offering the gift of eternal life to everyone who would simply believe in Him.

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No Emergencies With Jesus

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And as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Luke 8:23-25 ESV

In today’s verse, Jesus tells the disciples to get into the boat and head across the lake. After doing what He asked, they probably started out confidently, but about halfway across the water, a violent storm kicked up and suddenly it looked like they were about to die. Now, I have never almost drowned at sea, but while we lived on a busy city street, it was not unusual for us to place, 911 calls, after hearing, the familiar screeching of brakes and crunch of metal outside our home. Once my wife even jumped in to help direct traffic after one particularly bad accident. And though we knew what to expect, it was always a shock to me as, I was frantically explaining about the latest crisis, when the operator would cut in and simply ask, “Where is your emergency?” I was dying tell talk about, broken windshields or stunned drivers sitting on the curb, but what they wanted to know first was our location. Ironically, since our fire station was only about 5 blocks away, we could hear the sirens the moment we told them our address. As I calmed down, the operator would then ask, “Are there any injuries?” at which point a second siren would begin to wail and then last, she would ask my name, address, and phone number.

No matter where we live, all of us will experience a crisis and find ourselves in storms. The Bible never explains how to avoid every emergency, but it does tell us that God stands ready to help us in them. If it feels as if Jesus has fallen asleep, don’t give up. The most important thing in every storm is that Jesus is in our boat! Remember the 911 operator’s order. First tell Jesus where your emergency is. Though He already knows, He usually waits until we cry out to Him, “Hey Jesus wake up!” before He answers. Secondly, tell Him about your problem. “We are all about to drown!” Is pretty specific. Don’t be vague, tell Him every detail. Last of all, give Him Your name. For our names to be written down in His book, we need to first give Him the name of Master in our hearts, because only He commands our wind and waves. With Jesus there are no emergencies, and when He is the Captain of our Salvation, our boat will never sink!

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Alone With Jesus

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And after six days Jesus took with Him, Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them. Mark 9:2 ESV

One of my favorite hymns begins with the line, “I come to the garden alone.” I often think of those words as I go on my morning walks and as I sit to read the Bible with my first cup of coffee. Today’s verse might make you think you need to go up a mountain, to please God. But what Jesus was really asking, was for Peter, James, and John to be alone, with Him, so they could hear the Father’s voice. That makes me wonder when the last time was that my heart was quiet enough to hear HIs voice. God does not always lead us up mountains. Sometimes our path leads through the valley of the shadow of death, or the garden of Gethsemane, but wherever we find ourselves today, what is most important is to listen to Him there.

Because what matters is not just being alone – what counts is being alone with Jesus. Even if we began today so busy that we did not hear His voice, He still offers us an invitation come and be alone with Him. Whether sitting in a garden, climbing a mountain, or carrying a cross, when we walk with Him and talk with Him, He shares a joy with us that no one else has known. Listen for His voice. Today, He wants to be alone with you!