Monday Devotional: March 7, 2022

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

…’O 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, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”’ Luke 13:34-35

Jesus said these words of despair when He was standing on Mount Olive and facing Jerusalem. When He was once again looking down on Jerusalem from Mount Olive, He could see the sign of multiple rebuilding phases of the city, representing how the city was destroyed again and again. History told us that Jerusalem was destroyed and rebuilt 14 times because of the disobedience of the Israelites. Whenever the Israelites forsook God, their sin would lead them to destruction and God will allow them to sin and allow Jerusalem to be destroyed. In order to draw their hearts back to God, God ultimately let Jerusalem to be rebuilt, which also proclaims to all people and all nations that God is still in control.

The re-establishment of the nation of Israel and its resurgence today prove that God’s hand is still performing signs and wonders. God never forsook His chosen people, but His chosen people must turn back to God to serve and worship Him. This truth also means to us that even though believers like us may not forsake God or worship idols, we often worship money, and the influence from the material world is often far greater on us than the word of the Lord. We may not be persecuting Christ, but we may deny His authority in our life, and we cause God’s Spirit to worry.

So how do we turn back? In verse 35, Lord tells us that “you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” This means we should joyfully wait expect the return of the Lord, and it also teaches us to praise God. We need to praise the name of the Lord and the work in His hand, and when we praise God, He will take control of our life. Praise and worship is the first thing that God wants us to do, and it’s also the most important thing. One time the Lord said to the disciples: “If you do not praise God, even these rocks will get up and praise Him.” Perhaps you and I won’t have a strong feeling towards this scripture passage because we don’t see lots of rocks around us, but in Jerusalem, rocks are all over the place, covering roads, houses and hillsides. Can you imagine the scene of rocks rising up to praise? This is the will of God for us. May God help us to start exalting the Lord right now, to worship Him and never forsake Him.

Prayer

Dear Lord, please give us a heart of flesh, and remove the heart of rock inside us. Let us come before you and praise and worship, and let us exalt you in our life everyday. Remind us not to be disobedient like the Israelites, but to understand the sorrow in your heart, and be willing to spread the gospel in our life in order to fulfill your will. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!