Clear the Clutter
"And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons." – Matthew 21:12
There are moments in life when something that used to work stops working. You still go through the motions, but the meaning feels like it is missing. What used to feel holy becomes routine. What started out focused starts drifting. That is exactly what Jesus walked into when He entered the temple in Jerusalem during the final days of His ministry.
The temple had once been the center of spiritual life for the people of God. It was a place of worship, learning, cleansing, sacrifice, and community. People came to meet with God, to pray, to hear truth, and to walk away changed. But by the time Jesus arrived that day, things had shifted. The outer courts were filled with people trying to make a profit. Worshippers were being taken advantage of. A sacred space had become cluttered with distractions, greed, and selfishness.
Jesus didn’t stay silent. He flipped the tables. He cleared the room. He refused to let something that belonged to God continue to be used for something it was never meant for. That moment wasn’t just about the temple. It is a picture of what He sometimes needs to do in us.
Our lives can start to look the same way. We get busy. We let unhealthy influences stick around. We fill up our time with things that don’t lead us closer to God. And slowly, without even meaning to, we lose sight of why we started following Him in the first place. That’s when it’s time for a reset.
This is your reminder that it is okay to clear some things out. You don’t have to keep making space for things that crowd out your peace, your purpose, or your connection to God. Sometimes you need to remove the distractions before you can receive what God is trying to send. That takes courage. That takes honesty. But it also opens the door for real growth.
Jesus flipped tables not to make a scene but to restore the space. Maybe He is asking you to do the same. What needs to go so that you can make room for Him again?
There are moments in life when something that used to work stops working. You still go through the motions, but the meaning feels like it is missing. What used to feel holy becomes routine. What started out focused starts drifting. That is exactly what Jesus walked into when He entered the temple in Jerusalem during the final days of His ministry.
The temple had once been the center of spiritual life for the people of God. It was a place of worship, learning, cleansing, sacrifice, and community. People came to meet with God, to pray, to hear truth, and to walk away changed. But by the time Jesus arrived that day, things had shifted. The outer courts were filled with people trying to make a profit. Worshippers were being taken advantage of. A sacred space had become cluttered with distractions, greed, and selfishness.
Jesus didn’t stay silent. He flipped the tables. He cleared the room. He refused to let something that belonged to God continue to be used for something it was never meant for. That moment wasn’t just about the temple. It is a picture of what He sometimes needs to do in us.
Our lives can start to look the same way. We get busy. We let unhealthy influences stick around. We fill up our time with things that don’t lead us closer to God. And slowly, without even meaning to, we lose sight of why we started following Him in the first place. That’s when it’s time for a reset.
This is your reminder that it is okay to clear some things out. You don’t have to keep making space for things that crowd out your peace, your purpose, or your connection to God. Sometimes you need to remove the distractions before you can receive what God is trying to send. That takes courage. That takes honesty. But it also opens the door for real growth.
Jesus flipped tables not to make a scene but to restore the space. Maybe He is asking you to do the same. What needs to go so that you can make room for Him again?
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments