“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 ESV

The Church of Jesus Christ is a powerful institution that God Himself placed on earth. Church is where two or three are gathered in the name of the Lord. It is His house, the place where His body commonly gathers to worship and fellowship. It can take place in a living room, in a century-old building, in a rented facility…

When the church is at its best, it is a community filled with so much love, it is irresistible. When it is at its worst, it reeks of legalism, selfishness, pride, jealousy, etc. Gandhi said, ‘I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.’ I wish he had met people to whom Jesus meant more than a religion.

When the Lord says that His ‘house shall be called a house of prayers,’ He knows precisely what He has in mind for His body to shine and be a city on the hill. Unfortunately, there are churches that actually become dens of robbers, or a place where no transformation takes place.

WHAT THEN?

Wherever your church takes place, you are an important part of it. What you do, don’t do or say affects the community. Are you making sure your congregation, or at least your life is aligned with your Savior? What do you think of Jesus asking You to treat His Church like a house of prayer?

TAKE IT HOME

Prayer Father, let the zeal for Your house consume me. May my life be a city on a hill and may my church be a city on a hill. I pray for my congregation and the global Church. I pray for pastors and leaders, O God. Lead us into Your presence. Transform us to Your likeness. Let Your house be a house of prayer.

Action Plan Next Sunday, try getting to church 15 minutes in advance. Before the service even starts, begin praying. Pray for the people, the service, the message, the hearts… Also, remember that God’s house is your house. What do you do at home when it’s dirty? What do you do at home when you have visitors?

This devotion originally appeared on Devotable written by Caroline Bellemare

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