Friday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 2:1-12 (NLT)

Jesus Clears the Temple

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.

Jesus and Nicodemus

Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
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Morning Reflection:

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures:
“Passion for God’s house will consume me.” – John 2:17 (NLT)

Jesus’ first public work was to transform a market place into a place of worship.

Imagine going home and finding squatters trashing your house in the middle of the day. How would you respond? Probably with anger, but certainly with a sense that your person, your sanctuary, had been violated. And so, the Word of God cleansed the House of God, in order to restore it as a place for Communion with God.

No one needed to tell [Jesus] about human nature,
for he knew what was in each person’s heart. – John 2:25 (NLT)

And so it is today, Jesus is just as passionate about his place in your heart – the place where you commune with God.

Collect for Purity: “Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.”

Questions for your consideration:

+ What is going on in your heart? Is Jesus welcome? If not, why not?

+ What thoughts, desires, or secrets need cleansing so that Jesus can feel welcome and at home?

+ Ask Jesus for forgiveness and help in transforming your heart into his home.
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Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Here are my thoughts, desires, and secrets that I know offend you….
I’m sorry, please forgive me.

Thank you for your assurance of forgiveness and cleansing; help me turn things around so that “I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name.”

I ask this in your Name, so that my life, inside and out, might glorify you. Amen.
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“Clean This House” – Isaac Carree

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen