Premeditated Whipping - Daily Devotional March 12, 2010

Today's Bible Reading - Exodus 23, John 2, Job 41, 2 Corinthians 11

Premeditated Whipping

As Christ followers we are called to a higher standard of living then the rest of the world. By higher standard I mean that which speaks to character. If you take a minute and just read Galatians 5:16-24 you will get more clarification on this. Although Christ followers are called to a higher standard that does not always mean we live up to that standard, after all we are not perfect (far from it) but we are on a journey of pursuing perfection in Christ Jesus.

As we pursue perfection in Christ Jesus I have learned that one of the best ways to keep ourselves living that higher standard He has called us to, is to set up systems or things in our life that will drive out that which is not acceptable. I like to call these systems "premeditated whippings". Now before you get all weird on me just read on and you will see what I mean.

John 2:13-17 says, "The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, 'Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.' His disciples remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'" Notice what the bold portion of this passage (which I added) and what was taking place. Jesus walked into the temple and saw all the corruption that was happening and was so grieved that he actually sat down and made a whip out of some cords He had found. While He was sitting there winding those cords together to make a whip, He knew the whole time what He was going to do with it. This was a premeditated whipping at it's best. I would love to know what was going through His mind at that moment.

What we see here in this passage is that so much passion and zeal was inside of Jesus for His fathers house that He literally came up with a tool, or a system if you will, to drive those corrupt things out of the house. 1 Corinthians 6:19 references the fact that we are the temple or house of the Holy Spirit. In other words we are the house that God wants to keep clean. In this case it is not about money changers and sellers of goods but rather it is about the condition of our soul, but yet the principle is the same. We allow things in to God's house; things like anger, lust, ineffectiveness, pride, bitterness, greed and on and on the list goes. What we need to learn from today's devotional is that we need to sit down and create a whip that will drive these things out of our lives. If we never do this then we will be overcome with corruption and never fulfill the true will of God.

I think it is time that we as Christ followers sit down and begin to intentionally make some whips (systems) for some premeditated whippings and drive some things out of our lives. I believe that the cords of His word, prayer, community and accountability make for a pretty good whip. So today get into the word of God, pray, find a local church and establish some accountability with people in your life and begin to drive the corruption out of God's house!

It is time for some premeditated whipping.

Tomorrows Bible Reading - Exodus 24, John 3, Job 42, 2 Corinthians 12

Dream Big
Ben