Beyond the Weekend

March 3 | Monday

March 3, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

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

Read: Mark 11:12-19
Listen:
Mark 11

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Jesus returns to the temple on Monday. What he says and does on Monday gets him killed on Friday. On the way into the city, Jesus talks to a fig tree. He’s hungry, but it’s all leaves and no fruit. He commands that it never bear fruit again. The tree becomes a visual parable for what he’s about to do. He then enters the spectacle in the temple. Money changers and merchants crowd the court of Gentiles to serve the city’s swelling population. What should be a sacred space for outsiders to worship God has become a marketplace unfit for worship. Jesus clears the court, proclaiming they’ve wrecked the purpose of the temple. They’ve made the temple all leaves and no fruit.

Jesus isn’t just cleansing the temple or correcting their worship. Instead, it’s a sign that he’s about the replace the temple. Jesus displays the Father’s heart for those who are far from God. Jesus demolishes barriers (through what he will do on Friday) that prohibit outsiders from connecting with God.

Our Creator has a heart for all people and desires we welcome outsiders. However, we can be part of the chaos that keeps people out. We can draw people into the heart of the Father or drive them away through our work attitudes, online posts, traffic temper or the ways we talk about and treat our spouse. Welcoming Jesus into every area of our lives shapes our behaviors and attitudes to reflect his character and heart for all people. He wants to draw others to himself through us.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Consider if your life draws people in or drives them away from Jesus, then ask him to use to you draw others in. “Jesus, please use my life to show others what you are like. May my actions and attitudes bring others closer to you. Amen.”


2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE

Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse!

GALATIANS 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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