FOLLOW ME TO THE TEMPLE

This morning as I continued my study, I looked into the records (the Bible) of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was possibly March 31, 33 A.D. and Jesus was spending his Tuesday in the Temple teaching and answering questions. Among those in attendance was not only the sincere who was searching for truth but also the skeptics. You know, the religious rulers of that day that questioned the authority of the Lord.

Conflict is escalating in the Temple and Jesus is answering each question presented to Him very carefully. In the middle of Jesus teaching about faith, he was questioned about taxes to Caesar, and who would be married to whom in heaven. None of the questions presented to Jesus was too much of a challenge. He had an answer for every question.

It is no different today. Many are asking challenging questions about the kingdom of God. However here are a few things I am reminded of in these passages of scripture:

         Faith in God will move mountains in my life

o   Matthew 21:22 CSB “And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

·                Un-forgiveness hinders our prayers

o   Mark 11:25 CSB “And whenever you stand praying, If you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that our Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”

·                The greatest commandment is to love the Lord and the second is to love our neighbor as ourself.

o   Matthew 22:37-39 CSB “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

There are many other lessons to learn from Christ on this Tuesday, but the lesson that touches me the most is the lesson about the poor widow woman. Jesus looks up in the Temple and sees this “poor widow” dropping two tiny coins in the offering. Jesus’ eyes were fixed on this occasion and spoke,

“Truly I tell you, he said. ‘This poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all of these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:3 CSB).

On this Tuesday maybe God is speaking to you to give beyond your surplus. Look today for ways to bless someone, even if it means making a sacrifice.

Take time today to read Matthew 21, 22; Luke 20, 21, and Mark 11-13. Write down a few of the lessons that you learn from these passages of scripture.

Tuesday is finished and Sunday is soon coming!

Blessings,
Tim Lamb