Sunday, January 29, 2012

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem


But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.
They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.”
Luke 19:42


This portion of today's passage could have easily be written for our country.
Or even for the human race as a whole.  It may seem that peace is hidden from our eyes.  If you look at current headlines you would think that there is no peace anywhere in the world.  That we are a world full of only tormented souls.

The question is who are our enemies who encircle us?
Is it anyone who does not subscribe to our own brand of religion or denomination?  Is it anyone who offends us?  Is it the unlovable?

No! It is not.

In some cases our most relentless enemies are ourselves.  We throw ourselves to the ground, protesting the consequences of our own decisions.  Our real enemies love for us to focus on that.  I think our enemies are much harder to see.  They work to see us at each other's throats and pointing fingers and dividing ourselves.
They love to see husbands and wives divided by a pile of little things.
Love to plant the seed that our wives are the enemy.
Our real enemies will show no mercy.

Before it is too late...
How can we keep Jesus from weeping over our country?
What is the way to peace?

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
John 14:6

We can build a strong foundations and walls!
It begins at the trail-head to Jesus.  A path of which may be scarred with switchbacks, wrong turns, forks, deep valleys and heaven scraping peaks.

I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, for he saves me from my enemies.
Psalms 18:3 NLT

Then I will hold my head high, above my enemies who surround me. At His Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music.
Psalms 27:6 NLT

It begins with your heart and your relationship with God.
Prayer+Scripture=Communion
Communion=Fellowship=Friendship.

The results of us having relationships with God can change the landscape if the world. It can move mountains and swell rivers. Washing away and filling in voids and caverns that separate us from God.  What is it like when our children only spoke to us when they need something?  What is it like when we get up in the morning and our wives don't say 'good morning'?  We need to turn away from our enemies and their work and turn towards our God and His salvation.

repent=turn around/change direction=change one's mind.


Then He will be able to protect us from our enemies who surround us.
We can shout with joy and praise Him for our protection and salvation.


He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!
Luke 19:40




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