God Gives Life 2

Luke 19:45-46

It’s spring. The days are warming up. The skies are clearing. It’s time for spring cleaning. It’s that time of the year when we go through our house and open the windows to let fresh air blow through and clear out the stale odors of winter. We sort through all the clutter that has gathered and toss out those things that are not necessary.

After arriving in Jerusalem for the Passover Jesus did a little of his own spring cleaning. Where did he go? What did he do? What did he say?

The temple in Jerusalem at the time of Christ was a central meeting place for the faithful. Travelers gathered at the temple. Worshipers came to make their sacrifices. The temple was a busy place and in that busy-ness there sprang up small shops to sell sacrificial animals to believers who needed them to worship.

This market may seem necessary for worship, but we can also imagine that this system of supply and demand, of buying and selling, of changing money had become a hubbub of activity that gradually drifted farther and farther away from true worship. We can imagine that folks simply accepted the turmoil and noise of the temple market, something that detracted from true worship.

But Jesus knew that this was not the time and place for such activity. He chased out the vendors and money-changers. The temple was to be a place of prayer, a holy place where faithful believers could connect with the life-giving Spirit of God. Jesus was working to restore that holy connection that brings a new spirit to those who worship.

Like the temple, we can drift from the holy attitudes we should have. We may participate in worship services but these services may become humdrum and meaningless. We may have worries and concerns on our mind that keep us from connecting to God. Or we may allow the workings of our life to draw us away from time with God.

As we ready for Easter we must prepare our temples – ourselves – for our redemption. We must clear the clutter of our lives and make a clean place where we can recognize and receive the new life that God gives us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you clear away the distractions so you can more readily receive the new life God offers?

Invited 5

2 Chronicles 36:23

“Come on down!” It’s a familiar saying to many. The game show “The Price Is Right” made it famous. Contestants gather in the studio audience with the hope that they will be called to take part in the game and win prizes. When their name is called, accompanied by the phrase “come on down!”, they jump up and run wildly to the stage.

Their excitement is obvious. Their patience has paid off and now they have a chance to get something good.

The Book of 2 Chronicles is a conclusion of sorts. The history of the Israelites and all of their turmoil, their capture and bondage, their forced exile, has been chronicled and now has ended. What does King Cyrus declare?

This is the happy ending for the Israelites. They have been exiled to a foreign land and have hoped and longed for a chance to return to their land in Israel. Now, Cyrus has followed the command of God and plans to build a temple in Jerusalem. Things have turned around. Things are looking better.

Cyrus makes a declaration of his intent and he ends with an invitation. Anyone wishing to return to the land of Judah is invited to do so. May God be with them. May they be blessed and happy. Let them go up.

I imagine that at the word of this decree there were many who waved their hands and ran much like the contestants on the game show. They were ecstatic. Their patience had paid off. Something good was waiting for them.

Are we any different? We may plod along in life trying to do the best that we can. We may go from day to day hoping for the best, longing for something better, wondering if good will come.

Then God gives an invitation. We are invited to come and be in communion with our Lord. We are invited to have our souls meet with the Holy Spirit to be refreshed and renewed. We are invited to receive incredible goodness from God.

So to any of you who hope for salvation, who hope for goodness, who hope for peace and love – may God be with you, and may you go up to the table of God.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you respond to God’s invitation?