Staying Focus (Monday)

“Palm Sunday” was a very emotional time for Jesus.  Jesus entered Jerusalem and multitudes followed him crying Hosanna to the sons of David. But now it is Monday, and Jesus was very much aware that it is the last Monday before the crucifixion.  How will he spend his last Monday here on earth before the crucifixion?  

I turned this morning to Matthew's account to read of one of the first things that Jesus did upon entering the city is that he went to the temple. There he found things happening that were displeasing to him and states "It is written 'My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves (or a hideout for robbers).'"  This always seems to be the emphasis place on this scripture as if we have bragging rights that Jesus would exhibit his anger in the temple.

But are we seeing too much of the wrong that is happening in the church today to see the good?  I have been in ministry leadership for 38 years and it never fails.  If a person loses their focus on God, they will begin to focus on the wrong of others and many times “drop out” of church.  The wrong cannot be ignored, and Jesus did address the wrong at hand by turning over the money changer’s tables and chairs, but that was not his main objective of going to the temple.

Jesus’ main focus was on the blind and the lame in the temple.  Matthew account’s tells us that they were healed, I believed immediately.  He noticed the children singing praises to Him.  In fact, they were repeating some of the same praise that they had heard from the adults the day before.  The leading priest and the teachers in the temple wanted to find fault in the children by saying, "Do you hear the things these children are saying?  Jesus answered, 'Yes, Haven't you read in the Scriptures, 'You have taught children and babies to sing praises' (Matthew 21:16 NCV)."

Can we too look beyond the faults of others to see the needs of the blind or the lame in the church?  How many spiritually blind folks did you see yesterday in church?  Did you notice the children singing?  Did you notice the worship of those around you?  

My prayer this morning is that God will help us today, not looking for the fault in others, but looking for the needs of others.  

 Today, look for someone in need and be a blessing by doing something out of the ordinary for them.

Scriptures for today:  Matthew 21:10-17; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48