Prepare To Worship

 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep an doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  To those who sold doves he said "Get these out of here!  How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"  His disciples remembered that it is written:  "Zeal for your house will consume me."  

John 2:14-17

Bible Dictionary

Zeal definition

An earnest temper; may be enlightened (Num. 25:11-13; 2 Cor.7:11; 9:2), .... As a Christian grace, it must be grounded on right principles and directed to right ends (Gal. 4:18).

I think it's important to note that Jesus drove out only the sheep and cattle from the temple courts, not the farmers themselves.  Jesus did not open up the bird cages and release the doves, instead he addressed the dove owners and told them to get the doves out of the temple.  My point is He did not drive out the people.  Those that were money changers He just upset their tables but did not lay a hand on them.  The temple courts were for people of all nations.  We are to come prepared ahead of time to give back to God: tithes, offerings, worship. 

Every Sunday since the day I accepted Christ as my Savior I have made an effort to bring to Him the best of me, sometimes I'm more successful than other times.  I'm not legalistic, I just believe that since God gave His best for me that I should at least attempt to give my best back to Him.  It takes some effort before hand but that is what He wants, and it's what is best for us.  I admit that even on the days when I think I'm as prepared as I could be I feel like I could have done a little bit more, I have a long way to go still.  

God wants us to be thinking of Him all week long and we would be if we're loving Him and others as ourselves.  So when we come together to worship corporately we're prepared and happy to go to the Fathers 'house'.

God is not a last minute thought, you weren't to Him.  Don't treat Him like a last minute drive through take away meal, put some effort and planning into it.  I'm encouraging all of us to start preparing ourselves now for a meaningful Sunday morning worship (or whenever you meet corporately with God).

Jesus in His zeal used an earnest temper to clear the temple so that it was clean for people to come in without distraction, to have communion with the Father. 

Will you allow zeal for your Father to prepare you to be enlightened by communion with Him and others?

Take time to look up and read the verses above.  Let them help you motivate yourself for worship.  Share what you are doing with your spouse and children or parents.  It may challenge them toward the same goals you have set.

Imagine how clean and pure the worship will be when all distractions have been taken away and we come together thank God for what He's done for us.