when i grow up...

Recently in my devotions i have been trying to focus on Jesus' relationships with people. well, just the other night i read something very interesting in Matthew 21. Therein lies the account of Jesus entering the temple and seeing the moneychangers, etc. Growing up, i was always taught that this text shows an example of righteous anger. However, my teachers always made it sound like Jesus had a temper, overthrew the tables, sent money soaring and stormed around in a huff. although the Bible does say that he overturned tables, etc., his attitude about the whole thing is what captures me. what i love about this text is how approachable Jesus was after he drove out the pigeon sellers and money changers.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (vv 12-14)

As upset as Jesus was about the whole ordeal, he must have still been approachable. Maybe i am abnormal, but if someone is angry they arent usually approachable, so i tend to avoid them. i would rather wait till they are in a better mood. these that came to Christ, however, must not have felt that way...maybe because of the urgency of needing to be healed they figured they would take their chances, and hope he was in a better mood?

i think not. My God is holy. My God is righteous. My God knows how to act in every situation...even when he sees sin. My God knows how to control his anger. My God does everything in love. My God is the model of perfection, He is my Saviour. He is my Father. and as I grow up i want to be just like Him.