Rex Jennings

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In Touch Daily Devotional

Cleansing the Temple
Believers should bring others to God—not hinder them.
April 14, 2025

Matthew 21:12-17

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
13 And He said to them, ``It is written, `MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN."
14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, ``Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant
16 and said to Him, ``Do You hear what these children are saying?" And Jesus said to them, ``Yes; have you never read, `OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?"
17 And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

For the disciples, Palm Sunday must have felt like a dream as they celebrated with their people in Jerusalem. But the next day, something entirely different took place.
The Court of Gentiles, the only area of the temple non-Jews could enter, had become an open-air market. The Teacher and His followers pushed through customers who haggled with merchants, shouted over the livestock, or crowded around money changers’ booths. Jesus had seen enough. He went through the court, upending tables and chairs, pouring out coins, and driving animals toward the gate. Finally, He prevented merchandise from being carried through the temple (Mark 11:16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple.)
The disciples must have been astounded. They expected the Messiah to judge their oppressors, not His own people and their place of worship. Shouting above the din, Jesus reminded them of a scripture they’d apparently forgotten. “Is it not written,” He cried, “‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den” (Mark 11:17).
Jesus’ fervor in cleansing the temple revealed the priority He placed on purity of worship and access to the Father. He showed that nobody—not even God’s chosen people—should interfere with anyone seeking to follow the Lord.

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Love Worth Finding Daily Devotional

April 14, 2025 – Have You Said “I Do”? Ephesians 2:12-13 Sermon: 2091 Redeeming Love, Part 2

Pray Over This

“. . . that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:12-13

Ponder This

We share a story with Ruth. Think about it: Your past was as an alien. Your present was as a stranger to the covenants of promise. Your future was without hope. But there is a Boaz, a kinsman redeemer. He is legally worthy. He is lavishly wealthy. He is lovingly willing. And He says, “I want to give you a family. I want to give you a fortune. I want to give you fruitfulness. I want to give you fame. I want to give you a future.” And that’s what Jesus is saying to you today. “I gave My life to redeem you. I want you to be My bride.” That’s what the Church is, the bride of Jesus.
Can you imagine Ruth saying, “Boaz, I really would like to be married to you, but I don’t want anybody to know it. Could we just do this in secret?” At a wedding, all watch as the bride comes down the aisle. She’s not hoping that no one sees her. She’s hoping everybody sees her. Don’t be ashamed of the One who died in agony and blood on the cross for you. He is your Kinsman Redeemer: legally worthy, lavishly wealthy, and lovingly willing. And He has said “I do” to you. It’s time you said “I do” to Him.
• What is your testimony? How do you relate with Ruth, who was a foreigner but brought into the family of God?
• What are some ways you live out daily love and commitment to Jesus?
Practice This
Pray for someone who has not made the decision to follow Jesus yet.

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God’s Horseback Gospel

Apr 14

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NAS) Lord, help us realize the importance of Your death and resurrection, in Jesus' name. Please check out today's poem, "Holy Week," and the daily "Pass the Reins" devotional at: https://www.godshorsebackgospe....l.com/daily-poem/hol Thanks, and God bless your day. (Please share.)

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In Touch Daily Devotional

Hosanna!
The Lord provides what we need—even when it's not what we want.
April 13, 2025

Mark 11:7-10

7 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it.
8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields.
9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: ``Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!"

The people didn’t realize the significance of their words: “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they called out as Jesus rode by. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21:9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, ``Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!".
We know the day as Palm Sunday. But for the Jews, it was the day to choose a lamb for the annual Passover sacrifice. Years before, when His people were still in bondage, God warned that death was on its way to afflict every household, whether righteous or wicked. The Lord, however, provided a way out: All who took shelter under the blood of a spotless lamb would live.
So for years, God’s people brought sacrifices and prayed, Save us, please, as blood spilled from every offering. But the blood of bulls and lambs couldn’t fully purify them (Hebrews 10:4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.) The people of God were covered but not cleansed.
Then came that Palm Sunday, when the people were celebrating an earthly ruler they assumed would break the heavy yoke of Rome. They wanted freedom. But God had a freedom of a much more beautiful kind on His heart. His people thought they were choosing their king, but God was choosing their Lamb.
“Save us, please!” is answered today the way it was then: We were redeemed “with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.)

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Love Worth Finding Daily Devotional

April 13, 2025 – The Most Sacred Place John 7:16-18  Sermon: 2089 Five Ways to Draw Closer to Jesus, Part 2

Pray Over This

“Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.” John 7:16-18

Ponder This

Can you have an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ if you’re not fully committed to Him? The answer is no. The ultimate question we must answer is, “Is Christ Lord? Have I placed myself at the feet of my Redeemer?” It was Mary in the New Testament who had the habit of sitting at the feet of Jesus. The most sacred place on earth is not in the pew, not at the altar, not behind the pulpit, and not in a temple somewhere. The most sacred place on earth is at the feet of Jesus, fully committed to Him.
We are not only to be fully committed but also faithfully compliant. Do you want to be near Him without obeying Him? Do you think somehow that you can take your place at His feet without hearing His Word? Do you want the Lord Jesus to be a bright, living reality to you? If you surrender your will to the Lord, God will teach you. It’s not, “Lord, You show me what You want me to do, and I’ll tell You whether I’ll do it or not.” No. You say, “Lord, I’ll do it. What is it?”
What are some things God has prompted you to do? Where have you obeyed? Where have you neglected or avoided His prompting?
What are some things God has laid on your heart recently that you need to obey now?

Practice This
Spend time in the Word, asking God if there is anything He would have you do, then do it.