Morning by Morning, April 3 - Knowing When to Turn the Tables and When to Turn the Other Cheek Good morning, Lord Jesus. I’m listening for Your leading. ... On the journey to the Cross, during this Holy Week, I’m remembering the story of when You went into the courts of the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and drove them out with a whip, told in all four Gospels: “In the temple courts (Jesus) found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a market!’” (John 2:14-16). “He said to them, ‘It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers!’” (Matthew 21:13) You never sinned, yet You did express Your anger. As Your Word calls us and cautions us, we’re to express our anger, yet without sinning in our anger. “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Some things should make us angry. And some things should lead us to take action. But as we follow in Your steps and walk in Your ways, how are we to know when to turn the other cheek and when to turn over the tables? It’s only by seeking to live in communion with You and surrender to the leading of Your Spirit in all we do and say. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14). Even when we’re angry, even when we’re led to take action, give us grace to release our anger to You so we can then act and speak by the leading of Your Spirit. Get the money changers and robbers out of the temples of our hearts, so we can truly sense the leading of Your Spirit instead of the tempting of our flesh, acting out the righteous anger of God rather than the unrighteous anger of man. For our temple is not a place made of stone on a mountain, but a place prepared for Your Presence in our hearts. “For God’s temple is holy, and (we) are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16). “(Our) body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within (us), which (we) have from God, and (we) are not (our) own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). The expression of Your emotions and the courage of Your convictions were part of what led to Your crucifixion. There were consequences for Your courage. And there will be consequences for ours. “A disciple is not above the teacher” (Matthew 10:24). As You said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). But You stand with us, as we stand in You, through whatever we encounter and endure as we take up our own cross daily to follow You (Luke 9:23). Come fill the temple of my heart with the Holy Spirit of Your Presence, Lord. Get everything out of me that’s not yet like You. And give me humility to listen for Your leading and courage to act at Your command. Align my heart with Your heart, my thoughts with Your thoughts, in all my actions and my emotions out of the place of abiding communion with You, for “anyone united to the Lord become one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17). And in that way, my temple will by Your house of prayer and my life will be an expression of Your heart. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My friend, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit in the temple of your know, knowing when to turn the tables and when to turn the other check, as you take up your cross and follow Jesus on your journey of resurrection life in Him each day, in Jesus' name. God bless you! Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries Mailing Address: 412 S. Adams Street #148 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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