Temple Guards

They wouldn’t crack a smile.

Years ago, we were on a college trip to Europe and made our way to Buckingham Palace. Like silly 20-somethings, we were doing our best to make the guards at the Palace break character, but it wasn’t working. No matter what faces we made, or words we said, the Buckingham Palace guards stood stone-faced, at attention. However, I guarantee the guards heard everything, and at the end of their shift, probably discussed how ridiculous our tour group was that day.

Turn back the pages of history to another group of guards, the Temple Guards. At the Temple, when Jesus was questioned on numerous occasions by the Pharisees, we know they were standing guard, listening.

One day they broke their silence, boldly asking the Chief Priests and Pharisees about Jesus, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” No one ever spoke the way this man does.” The religious leaders weren’t happy about the Temple Guards’ profession of faith. “You mean he has deceived you also?” they asked.

While at their posts, the Temple Guards were doing their job. They may have been stone-faced, at attention, but they were listening. And now, they were believing.

There are Temple Guards all around us.

If we’ve labeled ourselves as Christians, people may not be saying anything, but they’re watching.

They’re watching how we speak.

They’re watching what we do.

They’re watching how we react.

Is it enough to make them want to learn more about Jesus, or do they go home at the end of the day, and shake their heads at our behavior?

I know I still have work to do in this area. One of the reasons I hate profanity is because it’s a terrible witness to those who are watching. Jesus said, “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” So I take what comes out of my mouth seriously, and have eliminated curse words from my vocabulary.

But I still struggle with worry, and anxiety, even though we’re told to “rejoice in the Lord always.” (Philippians 4:4) What would the Temple Guards around me think when they witness me being stressed out over a situation? Doesn’t Jesus promise us his peace? I don’t think they’d want what I have.

So it’s a daily discipline, and something we need to pray about before we walk out the door into the world.

We need to ask God to use us in someone else’s life.

We should pray we only speak encouraging words throughout the day.

And that the Lord helps us to handle any stressful situations with his peace and love.

There are Temple Guards all around us.

And they are watching.