He entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'” Luke 19:45-46
Dear Lord Jesus, you don’t live in a house made by human hands. You never have and you never will. But you are making us, the church, into a people in whom and among you dwell by the Spirit. We’re living stones, built together, one to another… all joined and aligned with you, the Cornerstone and Capstone. What a privilege… what a responsibility.
There’s nothing we need and there’s nothing the world needs more than your holy and gracious presence. And there’s no greater calling you’ve given us than to be a people of prayer—your beloved Bride which exists to declare your praises… acknowledge our need… offer you thanksgiving… and intercede for others.
Indeed, all of life is to be prayer for all of life is be to worship—one doxological affair after the other… declaring your worth, Jesus, and our dependency… proclaiming your glory and receiving more of your grace… presenting ourselves as living sacrifices in response to the mercy of your once-and-for-all sacrifice for us on the cross.
Forgive us when we ignore this charge or change the script. Forgive us when, instead of being a “house of prayer” we turn church into new expressions of a “den of robbers”… such as a food-court for consumers… an arena for novelty and entertainment… a gathering of critics and cynics… a place for posing and pretending… a giant womb, where we expect to be coddled… a Gnostic retreat, where we escape the world… an ingrown religious club, disengaged from the culture and community… a people who embrace any other gospel than the one-and-only-gospel of your transforming grace.
Have mercy of us, Jesus, have mercy of me. So very Amen, I pray, in your worship-worthy name.