march madness... it has begun!

“He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  ‘It is written,’ He said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:12-13

The madness, the surprises, the shocks, the celebrations... it has begun.  March Madness in college basketball is living up to its name in breathtaking, vivid colors. Teams are fiercely competing to keep their colors on the court for the next round. Yet, top contenders have already been shredded to bits; and they’ve packed up, returned home defeated by lesser teams refusing to act as losers.  As the madness continues, there is no doubt more surprises are waiting to unfold... you might say, it's a clearing of benches of the want-a-be's and the real thing.

Overturned benches, surprises and madness are as old as 2,000 years.  Jesus overturned the benches of the ranks in the temple during His final Passover.  Deceivers, exploiters, robbers getting in the way of people coming to see and worship His  Father in the temple.  It angered Him immensely. It made Him fighting mad.  He cleared out the pretenders for the real worshipers.

Father, sometimes I feel like one of the deceivers, putting up roadblocks and detours to others searching for You.  At those times, may I feel Jesus stomping my toes and clearing out my heart and soul. I pray not to be found as a pretender for God, but the real thing in showing His love, grace and goodness to all in my path.

Have a true-filled day!

Veneal