RESTORED TO SERVICE

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 29-32

"...So the Temple of the Lord was restored to service." 2 Chronicles 29:35 NLT

Let's get some things sorted out here.

The Temple had not been closed due to a fire or flood, the building was just fine.

The Temple doors had not been locked due to a lack of attendance, folks were there each and every Sabbath.

The Temple had not been barred from use in an effort to keep a pandemic at bay, the physical health of the community was good.

The Temple had not been put on hold due to a lack of priests or Levites, there were many on the roster.

The Temple had been shut down temporarily so that a thorough cleaning could be done on it. A overhaul. A remodel, of sorts, but not in the decorative style of the building...

It had been closed in an effort to rid it of any and all defiled things that had been allowed inside its walls.

It had been shut down in an effort to remove any and all sinful things from inside it.

Church, we may need to do the same things to our houses of worship.

Before we can make an impact on our world--we may need to do some spiritual cleaning within our churches.

Those outside our walls need us so desperately, but if we're not cleansed from sin, practicing the disciplines of God and sick at the thought of godless impurities that might be in our hearts and lives-we'll do them no good.

May we do a cleaning of our houses of worship!