What Jesus Did! 'Passion for the House of God' — John 2:17

Saturday, February 5, 2022

ToGather: Freed to Serve

Jesus paid the price to free us from sin, death, and hell so we could serve others in love.

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[After Jesus cleared the Temple of the money changers and animals,] his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's house will consume me."
— John 2:17 NLT

Key Thought

What's your passion? Does your passion include God's house, the temple where he lives today, his people? [1]

Jesus was "done in" by his holy passion for God's business and God's house. Jesus' clearing of the Temple was one thing that led the Jewish leaders to want to kill him. [2] If we follow the mock trial of Jesus leading to his crucifixion, the false basis of his execution was partially rooted in the Jewish council's misunderstanding about the Temple when Jesus said about his body, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." [3]

So let me ask you again, what is your passion? Life without passion is flat and boring. Life with the wrong passion is dissipated on destructive pursuits. But when life is built around godly passion, it produces a permanent impact. What's your passion?

[1] 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19-20.
[2] Mark 11:15-18.
[3] John 2:19-21; Mark 14:55-58.

Today's Prayer

Father, give me a fervent passion for your people, your work, and your Kingdom. Through your Holy Spirit, stoke the fires of my heart to live with a holy passion for you and your people. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Luke 2:41-50
  • 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
  • Ephesians 2:19-22

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Illustration

Illustration of John 2:17 NLT — [After Jesus cleared the Temple of the money changers and animals,] his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: "Passion for God's house will consume me."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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