I was struck in a new way this morning by one of my favorite songs by derek webb titled “lover”. the song is all about how christ is our lover who pursues us to set us free to love him. there is a part in the song, appropriate to the weekend that just passed…easter…that talks about jesus coming to the temple in jerusalem and what he found there:
but i found thieves and salesmen living in my father’s house
i know how they got in here and i know how to get ‘em out
i’m turning this place over from floor to balcony
and then just like these doves and sheep you will be set free
the song’s correlation is that since we are now the temple of God as the spirit of christ lives in his people and he is ridding us individually and corperately of the thieves and salesmen that have taken over in us. It struck me that christ is doing this in me. the longer i live the more i realize how much the world’s system has set up shop in me and how much i need to keep letting christ turn over those tables of deceit, greed, and idolatry that are there. he knows how they got there and he knows how to get them out! and i will not be free to worship him as he desires until these things are gone. so what/who are the “thieves and salesmen” in your heart/lives that are robbing God of worship and you of his pleasures and joy? some of mine are greed/lust of the heart…always wanting more, seeking people’s approval, distraction with the stuff of this world (i could go into another one of my favorite songs on this one!) let’s be set free personally and together as a people who are pursing the God who is passionately pursuing us!!
