Devotions
Rev Gav
Threatened
Luke 19.45–end
Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written,
“My house shall be a house of prayer”;
but you have made it a den of robbers.’
Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.
Reflect
Have you ever noticed that it is often those who have (or want to have) status and authority who feel threatened by incomers? It matters not what profession you are in, it seems no workspace is safe from people who denigrate, undermine, harass, or even seek to ‘constructively dismiss’ others.
We read, in today’s reading, that human nature two-thousand years ago was the same. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people all sought to discredit Jesus, and worse, they actively sought out ways to kill him. What was it about Jesus that left them feeling so threatened?
Firstly, they were jealous. Jesus was extremely popular and we read that, “the people were spellbound by what they heard.” Secondly, they were afraid. If you have power and status to which you cling, then you will feel afraid of anyone who might take that away from you. And thirdly, those leaders felt exposed. They were, after all, using their positions of power and authority, and the Temple itself, as a means for financial and societal gain, and Jesus was bringing their corruption and failings into the light — often using the very scriptures on which those leaders claimed to stand. For example, in today’s reading Jesus quoted two lines, one from the prophet Isaiah where the temple was called to be a house of prayer for all people, and one from the prophet Jeremiah, who was pronouncing judgment on those who were acting unjustly and claiming to worship God within the temple walls.
Jealousy, fear, and embarrassment.
Jesus, on the other hand, possessed a healthy security, and he did not perceive others as a threat to his identity. What a joy it is when our leaders, whether at work, at church, at home, or at play, are secure in themselves. They bring the best out of their colleagues, subordinates, and teammates.
We might not be able to prevent ourselves being attacked by those who feel threatened by us, nor can we change others’ behaviour, but the best defence and protection is to ensure that we ourselves are secure, and that security comes from God. When we recognise and acknowledge that every atom of our physicality is being held together by God, and that God is sovereign over our lives — our possessions, our money, and our relationships — we become more secure, and though others may harm us, they cannot take away our inner, God-given, joy and peace.
Photo by Yuval Zukerman on Unsplash
Pray
Holy God
When others seek to undermine me,
when they put me down,
or make my life difficult,
help me remember that
my security comes,
not from what others think of me,
but from my relationship with you.
This day and forever.
and then