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Mark 11:11
So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples. |
Over the years, I have heard many people talk about Jesus going into the Temple, turning over the tables, and driving out the people that were buying and selling (Mark 11:15). However, I have never heard anyone mention verse 11, which I believe is a very important part of this story. Verse 11 says, "After looking around carefully at everything, he left and went home because it was late in the afternoon" (Mark 11:11).
I began to think about the times in my life when I corrected others and the times when others corrected me. As the instances began to play through my mind, a truth began to emerge: if the One and only Son of God took the time to carefully observe the actions of others before correcting them, then perhaps we need to do the same. Jesus didn't base His corrective action on gossip or what others told Him people had done. He based His corrective action on what He saw with His own eyes and heard with His own ears.
I don't know about you, but there have definitely been times in my life when it was easy for me to find the time to correct someone, but I somehow had trouble finding the time it took to "closely observe" that behavior I was correcting. In this moment there was the realization that if I am not willing to invest the time to observe what I am correcting, I don't need to correct it. In other words, if it is important enough for me to correct, it is also important enough for me to know. Anything less would be considered a double standard (Proverbs 20:23).
Jesus, thank you for being a gracious King! Thank you for taking the time to closely observe our thoughts and inspect our hearts. Help us to become more like you in everything that we say and do. Lord, tune the harp of our heart! May we continually play our song before you! We love you Lord and declare that you alone are worthy of all praise. In your mighty name, Jesus, we pray. Amen!
I began to think about the times in my life when I corrected others and the times when others corrected me. As the instances began to play through my mind, a truth began to emerge: if the One and only Son of God took the time to carefully observe the actions of others before correcting them, then perhaps we need to do the same. Jesus didn't base His corrective action on gossip or what others told Him people had done. He based His corrective action on what He saw with His own eyes and heard with His own ears.
I don't know about you, but there have definitely been times in my life when it was easy for me to find the time to correct someone, but I somehow had trouble finding the time it took to "closely observe" that behavior I was correcting. In this moment there was the realization that if I am not willing to invest the time to observe what I am correcting, I don't need to correct it. In other words, if it is important enough for me to correct, it is also important enough for me to know. Anything less would be considered a double standard (Proverbs 20:23).
Jesus, thank you for being a gracious King! Thank you for taking the time to closely observe our thoughts and inspect our hearts. Help us to become more like you in everything that we say and do. Lord, tune the harp of our heart! May we continually play our song before you! We love you Lord and declare that you alone are worthy of all praise. In your mighty name, Jesus, we pray. Amen!
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