COMMERCIALIZED WORSHIP

Isaiah 56:7: “Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

This verse is a familiar one because Jesus quoted it as he drove the corrupt moneychangers and dishonest sacrificial-animal traffickers out the temple: “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves'” (Matt. 21:13­). The commercialism in God’s house was frustrating believers’ attempts to worship, creating a roadblock or wall, separating them from an encounter with the living God. The merchants took the focus off of worshiping God in truth and spirit by abusing and ripping the worshipers off. We must be careful that our lives and actions never become a roadblock to others. We are all supposed to be living examples of God’s character. When someone does not know God, they get their impression of who He is by how we live. That is why it is so important for us to walk the walk, if we are in fact, talking the talk.

God’s house is a house of prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. It’s not a one-sided speech, but a two-sided conversation. Prayer may be the most powerful tool we have been given by our heavenly Father. Far too often we rely on our efforts to accomplish a work for God, only coming to God in prayer after we fall flat on our face. How much less painful and more efficient it would be if we would just first start with prayer. Over and over again we are told that God resists the proud and self-sufficient, but draws near to the humble, honest, needy follower. Our admission of empty weakness seems to make room for His power and grace.

Prayer: “LORD, we pray, asking You to direct our walk this day as we seek to serve You and Your Kingdom.”

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The Lady Evangelist Kim
gospelrevolutionmovement@gmail.com