Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise. John 2:16

Can you imagine sheep and goats and birds being sold right in your church?  Can you imagine men shouting about how they will give you a better deal if you change your money at their table?  

That's what was happening at the temple where Jewish people went to worship God.  And Jesus didn't like it.  He called the temple 'My Father's house' - it was a place to honor God, not to make money.

Jesus made a whip out of cords, forced the keepers to round up the animals and drove them out of the temple.  He shooed all the birds away and threw over the moneychanger's tables.  Jesus was very angry that people would treat God's House this way.  The Temple was God's dwelling place on earth.

The leaders didn't like what Jesus did.  But that didn't stop Him.  Jesus always put God first.

Sometimes we have to do something that others don't like - maybe speak up for Jesus when others use His Name as a swearword.  If we do speak up, we are following Jesus' example of honoring God.

Prayer: Dear God, please help me to follow Jesus and honor You.  Amen.