Nov 18 2005

Lk 19:45-48
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
The temple officials were anxious to find any pretense to accuse and kill Jesus. The people were enraptured with his teachings and came to him to hear all of his teachings. I have never liked seeing gift shops inside churches. The message is not a good one. We cannot buy our way into salvation. God's love and faith are a gift freely given there is no price that will buy this it must come from the Spirit and freely. I believe we must be willing to put aside the material things in life for the higher needs of faith. It is hypocritical to be in love with the material and the transitory. It is Christian to love the eternal and being willing to leave behind all worldly things.