The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 11:55 – 12:36, Matthew 21:1-22, Mark 11:1-26, Luke 19:28-48, John 2:13-25
Act 3: God’s New Covenant People
Scene 3: Christ’s Deliverance of His People: God’s Work through the Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement of His King
Background Information: Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 11:55 – 12:36, Matthew 21:1-22, Mark 11:1-26, Luke 19:28-48, John 2:13-25
The extravagance of the temple didn’t impress Jesus because it was all a show. The temple, like the fig tree, was barren and fruitless. The fig tree looked promising, but it disappointed the hungry disciples. The temple likewise disappointed the spiritually hungry sojourners who went there hoping to experience God. Instead, they experienced foolish human traditions. Jesus killed the tree in an acted parable. Jesus cleared the temple in a real act that communicated that the temple’s days were numbered. Jesus would give his own life to do what the temple could not: give eternal life to the spiritually hungry. Beware–our shows of extravagance do not impress God, for he looks to the heart. However, this doesn’t mean that it is wrong to express your love to God in extravagant ways. Mary poured out a very expensive perfume on Jesus in an extravagant display of love. She was rebuked by Judas, whose entire life proved to be a facade. He pretended to care for the poor, but he was really just counting the money being “wasted.” Jesus in turn rebuked him and said that Mary had done a noble and memorable thing. She didn’t know that her actions were preparing Jesus for his sacrificial death. She only knew that she loved Jesus, and she showed that love in a burst of extravagant devotion. When is human extravagance wrong in our church buildings, our dress, our worship services, and our lifestyles? When is our extravagance an appropriate demonstration of love and worship? There are no rules, but we must look to our hearts because this is what God does. Is this external display, in whatever form it takes, merely a show, a facade? Or is this external act of extravagance a proper demonstration of your heart’s devotion to Christ? Don’t overthink this, but don’t underthink it either. It is always good to examine our heart’s motives. We want our lives to bear real fruit that flows from a life lived for the glory of God from a heart that is fully devoted to God.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Dalton & Hannah, serving in South Asia, to have wisdom as their team provides training for believers. Pray for churches there to grow ad multiply.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.