Prayer not Exploitation!
S - And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.' Mark 11:17
O - God's heart is that all people would hear the gospel and be given opportunity to respond. Black, white, red, brown, yellow, all people are welcomed to the house of God! The church is diverse - old and young, rich and poor, new believers and mature Christ followers. But it is the forgiveness and grace of our God and the call to live in a prayerful communion with him that unites us. People who don't know God can think that it is about works, religion, power and the use of the house of God for their own ends. Control, manipulation or exploitation was never God's desire for his church. In fact Jesus shows disdain for what was supposed to be a diverse community worshiping and praying to God. He overthrows table, stopped people carrying goods through the temple. God hates it when leaders misuse power to control.
A - I must remember that the church is God's. He has called people from every nation, forgiven them, shown them his love, grace and mercy. As a pastor, my role is to help people know, love and pray to the Father, to model it in my own life and to never use or abuse or control people in the process. It's God's house not mine. It's diverse. It's for prayer not exploitation. Prayer is deep, joyful, free communication with God, through the Holy Spirit and in Jesus name.
P - Father, I pray for our church. That our leaders would be servants of you. That we would serve diligently yet not think that gives us a right to claim the church as ours. That we would never seek to control, exploit, bully or abuse but rather love, encourage and model the joy of participating with God's people in the practice of prayer! Amen.
Daily Reading - Mark 11
A - I must remember that the church is God's. He has called people from every nation, forgiven them, shown them his love, grace and mercy. As a pastor, my role is to help people know, love and pray to the Father, to model it in my own life and to never use or abuse or control people in the process. It's God's house not mine. It's diverse. It's for prayer not exploitation. Prayer is deep, joyful, free communication with God, through the Holy Spirit and in Jesus name.
P - Father, I pray for our church. That our leaders would be servants of you. That we would serve diligently yet not think that gives us a right to claim the church as ours. That we would never seek to control, exploit, bully or abuse but rather love, encourage and model the joy of participating with God's people in the practice of prayer! Amen.
Daily Reading - Mark 11
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