Jn.2:15-17 – And He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away from here; stop making My Father’s house a place of business!” His disciples remembered that it was written: “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”
I love God’s house; yes I love His imperfect church with all of her warts and blemishes. I love the church because the redeemed are there, those who have been washed by the blood of Jesus. Their testimonies declare the glory of God. I also love His church because that is where God has chosen to dwell. He lives among His people displaying His glory to all who are thirsty. This love for God’s house is described in today’s verse as zeal. Jesus said He was consumed with love for the house of God. As a matter of fact Jesus displayed an anger when it came to protecting and cleansing the house of God. Here is how Augustine describes it.
“He then is eaten up with zeal for God’s house who desires to correct all that he sees wrong there. And if he cannot correct it, he endures and mourns.… Let the zeal for God’s house consume every Christian wherever he or she is a member.… In your house you busy yourself in trying to prevent things going wrong. In the house of God, where salvation is offered, ought you to be indifferent?… Do you have a friend? Admonish him gently; a wife or husband? Admonish them too.… Do what you are able, according to your station.”
In today’s world it is quite common to criticize God’s house or His church. I would not recommend doing that near me. I love His church. It is in His church that I found Him (or He found me) and I begin to discover my purpose in life. I will support His church, build His church, and protect His church with all of my might and resources. This is where God lives on the earth and His church is His only plan in reaching the world. So I have to agree with Jesus, “Zeal for God’s house has consumed me”. My recommendation is to let that zeal consume you.