“…For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7b

His House

Walk His Way Revisited

Most of us like our houses kept tidy, at least to some degree. We like to be able to find a screwdriver when we need it. And the salt shaker. And the dusting spray. There is some sense of order.

If the kids are running through the house, knocking things over in their playtime, we may tell them, “Houses are not for running in. That’s something to do outside.” Though some areas indoors may be dedicated to rough play, mostly we tell them to take it outside.

God declares that His house is to be a house of prayer. This was its purpose from the beginning. The incense burning just outside the Holy of Holies transformed a dusky tent into a sweet-smelling habitation for our Lord. The incense represented the prayers of those who loved Him; this is partially what is meant when it says His house is a house of prayer.

The temple where God’s presence dwelt, and later, our own selves that are His habitation (see 1 Corinthians 3:16) are to be considered holy places. The Spirit of the Living God is there! We are told again and again not to allow anything that defiles God’s dwelling place. This is our God-given, Spirit-enabled responsibility.

Let’s jump to another place in Scripture. Jeremiah 23:11 says, “’For both prophet and priest are profane; yes, in My house I have found their wickedness’ says the LORD.” The prophets and the priests were the spiritual leaders of the people. They were expected to know God, to hear His Word, and to lead the people carefully and accurately in God’s ways. They were to turn the hearts of the people to the Lord.

Instead, they were committing their evil deeds inside God’s dwelling place! You expect evil outside the house of God. You expect outsiders to act like outsiders. You don’t expect outsiders to conform to what is expected of insiders. God doesn’t expect sinners to do what is right (Amos 3:10), except as led by their God-given conscience (Romans 1:19-20). He knows them thoroughly.

We would do ourselves a favor to learn this lesson ourselves. We are offended by certain words and actions of unbelievers, yet in believers we often tolerate it, saying, “Well, I know she loves Jesus…” God does the opposite: He expects holiness of His followers. The priests and prophets, the spiritual leaders, must not defile their position, their calling, nor their own bodies. God considers it a personal violation. His own house has been vandalized. Burglarized. Spray-painted with graffiti, an embarrassing, shameful message spread on its walls and foundation.

Ladies, we are all called to be leaders, if not in the church proper, then in our homes, schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, the stores we shop in, the places we visit on vacation. Ask God for the awareness of being His temple and His mouthpiece as we go about our day. Kick out the sin in our lives, as Jesus drove out the moneychangers from the temple (Matthew 21:12-13). May we remember that each of us is a house of prayer.

God, may we live as houses of prayer, and may we always be ready to turn the hearts of people to You, instead of away from You. Amen.