HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Even though the Jewish leaders, those who should have been closest to God and the first to recognize Him as the promised Messiah, had rejected Him, Jesus’ heart was still full of compassion for them. In this scene, Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem. In less than forty years, this great and holy city, which had represented God’s people and been the center of their lives and nation, would be overtaken and destroyed. If only they had listened to Him. If only they had believed. In this sad scene, we see clearly the merciful and longsuffering love of God. Though these hard-hearted leaders had twisted and corrupted God’s laws, though they had led God’s people astray, though they had rejected His Son and would soon murder Him, yet God’s love persisted. He mourned their downfall and wished for their return. It is no different in our day. Despite our world’s own hard-heartedness and refusal to believe, God continues to love. He continues to desire salvation for mankind. And he continues to wait patiently, giving us time to repent and turn to Him before it is too late. What a loving and patient God!
Why do you think God is so long-suffering toward us?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
