"And when [Jesus] drew near and saw the city, he wept over it," Luke 19:41
Church, I am grieved. I am grieved by the condition of our country. I am grieved by the dishonest actions of people in positions to enact change. I am grieved by the lack of respect for authority, from children to parents all the way up to constituents and politicians. I am grieved by the wickedness of the human heart that prompts the events of last weekend's shootings in El Paso and Dayton. I am grieved by churches giving approval of sin. I am grieved by Christians not standing up for real Biblical truth. I am grieved by a culture of fairy dust Christianity that doesn't grieve and lament, that doesn't weep, wail and mourn, that doesn't humble itself before God and follow his word.
Days before his betrayal and death, which would lead to his resurrection and open the door for our salvation, Jesus was also grieved and he wept. I believe he was grieved as he looked at the city of Jerusalem and saw the condition of mans' heart and, in his all-knowing nature as God, saw mans' response to what he was about to do for them. I wonder, was his grief compounded as he looked down the line of eternity at the heart and condition of all mankind and saw how they would respond to what he was about to do for them?
Church, I am grieved but I am not in despair. I am not in despair because of passages like the one we will find ourselves in this Sunday, where the Lord says to Gideon, "Go in this might of yours and save Israel!" I am grieved, but I do not grieve without hope! Praise the God of heaven! Until Sunday, wherever you live, work, or play, keep laboring for the Kingdom of God and of his Christ!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)