When Jesus cleanses the temple in Jerusalem, the NLT translates this, "Stop turning my Father's house into a market place." Hmmm. Isn't the Christian story that your heart is now God's home? Isn't that where we buy, sell and trade what for what we want, as well? When we come to church its time to stop treating it so much like we treat Amazon...choosing what we want...demanding our preferences...boycotting worship for whatever reason. Perhaps its time we live out of that cleansed temple life.
So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy. [1 Peter 1:13-16]