Good morning. Today is Monday, March 30th.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Matthew 11:15

We’re looking at these verses because they happen right before Easter. This is during the final week of Jesus’ life, leading up to the cross and the resurrection. So this moment isn’t random. It’s part of the buildup to everything that’s about to happen.

In Matthew 21:12–13 it says:

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Jesus walks in and immediately clears the temple. It was supposed to be about prayer, but they had turned it into something corrupt.

In Mark 11:15–17 it says:

“And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Mark shows He didn’t just clear it once. He stopped people from even using the temple like a normal place. It was meant to be set apart for God.

In Luke 19:45–46 it says:

“And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;

Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Luke makes it direct. God’s house had a clear purpose, and they had turned it into something else.

All of this happens right before the cross. Before Jesus goes to die for sin, He confronts what’s wrong, especially when it still looks right on the outside.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Jesus, You are holy and worthy of honor.

Confession: I’ve let things into my life that don’t belong in Your temple.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for loving me enough to correct me.

Supplication: Cleanse my heart and remove anything that shouldn’t be there.

In Jesus name, Amen

“Just Believe” by Bailey Zimmerman & Brandon Lake

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God