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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Pie or Piety?

# 613 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 11:15-17 “ So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"

I confess, I used to seethe at the various fundraising activities undertaken under the umbrella of the church. Seeing the tables set up in the narthex of the church and money exchanging hands always stirred up memories of this event in Scripture.

Today I still lament that we have to spend so much time and energy on these events. If everyone would just give a tenth of their income to the church, these church bazaars would be completely unnecessary, and we could all devote more time to our corporate and individual spiritual growth through prayer, Bible study, and ministry.

Now please, I'm not saying that bake sales are of the devil. But it wouldn't hurt our churches to pause and consider what impression we are leaving to those on the outside looking in. Are we known for our pie or our piety? Are we known as people in touch with God, or trying to put the touch on others?

Father, restore Your house to what You meant for it to be. Let us once again be first and foremost a house of prayer.

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