Sand Mountain Sermonette 64
Psalm 69:9 (a); John 2:16-18
The Day I Thought I was Babe Ruth!
“For zeal for Thy house has consumed me…” David, Psalm 69:9 (a)
“…and to those who were selling the doves He (Jesus) said, ‘Take these things away; stop making my Father’s house a house of merchandise. His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘ZEAL FOR THY HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.’” Jesus, John 2:16-18.
I will never forget the afternoon I hit my first (of two career) homeruns while playing Little League baseball. It was a beautiful day at the Little League baseball field in Albertville, Alabama. My dad, Skeeter Mabrey, was coach and I played for a team called the Civitans. I stepped up to the plate, and minus pointing my bat toward center field as Babe Ruth of old was noted for, I swung, connected to the ball, and headed toward first base as I saw my ball just clear the center field fence for a home run! But a very excited grandfather Mabrey surprised me with something that would rival my receiving that same ball from the umpire after the game.
The minute the ball appeared to be heading for a home run, my grandfather, who was standing near an old metal drum trashcan located by the concession stand, picked a stick up off the ground and began to bang that drum and yell to the top of his lungs, “That’s my boy!” “That’s my boy!” “Yahoo!” as I rounded the bases and crossed home plate.
David had a fiery passion that burned deep within his soul to be in the Lord’s house and to commune with God, whether times were good or bad in his life. In John Two, we find Jesus confronting the corrupt money changers and the sellers of animals for profit to the innocent and unsuspecting folks who would be offering sacrifices unto the Lord at the outer courts of the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus with righteous anger in His heart and a “scourge of cords” in His hand, drove these people who had turned God’s house that was supposed to be a house of prayer and worship into a noisy market, out into the streets!
Sometimes we can be zealous for the wrong things; misplaced things in and outside of God’s house that draw us away from what’s most important: passionate authentic prayer, and love for the word of God which draw us to the heart of God Himself! My grandfather’s reaction was not misplaced the day he zealously struck the can when I hit my first homerun; the driving force being His love for me and the joy he had as being my grandfather. Nor was Jesus’ fervor for His Father’s house and His Father’s people misplaced when he drove out the dishonest moneychangers and sellers of animals.
What drives your passion? Are you zealous-passionate-on fire for God? If not, do you desire to be? Invite the Holy Spirit to renew your heart with a love for Christ and for things He’s passionate for. Invite Him to clear out all deception and rivalry to the intimacy God desires in your relationship with Him.
Pastor Louie