READINJudges 20-21, Luke 13:18-14:11
I don’t want to suggest we should be overly-emotional, sappy believers, but I’m convinced we don’t grieve enough before the Lord. We don’t always hurt when people around us reject the Lord’s overtures of love or ignore His warnings of judgment. In fact, we’re generally not deeply burdened about those around us.
I’m reminded of that truth when I read Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Luke 13:34). Jesus is the sovereign Lord, yet you can almost sense His grief that would lead to His tears over the city in Luke 19. He knew how much He loved them, yet He also knew judgment was coming. He yearned for the city to let Him love them and protect them as a hen guards her chicks, but they were not interested. The burden of that reality must have been heavy for Jesus.
Thus, I again can only wonder if you and I lament lostness and gospel-rejection as we should. May He help us to see the world with His eyes, grieve their condition, pray for them, and share the saving gospel with them!
PRAYER: “Lord, break my heart over my city today.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: Pray for all the churches in your community, asking God to increase their burden for non-believers.
TOMORROW’S READING: Ruth 1-4, Luke 14:12-15:10
