April 30, 2013
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 23:37-39
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus expresses the heart of God. Here is the message of the whole bible: God’s desire to embrace and help His children, and their refusal to receive it.
The consequence of rejecting God is that ‘your house is left empty’ The house symbolizes a place of welcome, happiness, security, blessing, but without God we do not find it. When we persistently close our hearts to God, we do not see or experience Him. Jesus says we will go through life in this empty, hollow, unsatisfying way until His final return, when God’s people will cry out with joy, ‘He’s coming, blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord’.
In other words, God wants to fill our lives with joy, but if we reject God, we will not find it.
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
We were designed to live with God in this world, to enjoy all things in/with/through Him. The key to happiness is experiencing life in this world with God. This is why so many people can’t find happiness.
What does it mean to be ‘gathered’ by God? The picture in my mind is of an upset child refusing their parent’s offer of help and comfort. A positive picture of this is seen in Psalm 131: “I have made myself calm and content like a young child in its mother’s arms. Deep down inside me, I am as content as a young child.” (Psalm 131:2)
Life is hard, there are no guarantees, we will have tough experiences… but God can help us through them, if we let Him.
We need to surrender to God, to trust Him when things get hard, to rest in Him when things fall apart. All our striving and fighting and scheming and manoeuvring by ourselves is hopeless, without God.
You would not let me! Is this the reason behind my own struggles? Is my lack of spiritual fulfillment and peace because I am resisting God, not letting Him help me, keeping my walls up to Him?
He is standing at the door knocking, will I open up to Him?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I hear You calling to me… “Norman, Norman, I have wanted to gather you close to my heart, like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings… Please let Me!”
Observations:
The first verse reminds me of the vineyard and servants were sent to collect the ‘rent’ and finally God sent His Son and they killed Him. There is safety and protection only in the shelter of His ‘wings.’ God call us to take refuge in Him, in His protection. Happiness is being in His presence, but God’s people were not willing. They refused to let Him in. They killed their eternal life of happiness.
Application:
God works among His people but we/I need to have an open heart to receive His goodness. Jesus is at the door knocking and I . . . I need to let Him in to be MY Saviour and MY God. If I desire eternal happiness I must willingly surrender my will to His and He will receive me as His child. Open the doors of my heart Lord and reign there today and forever.
Prayer:
Help me each day Lord to journey with You. Lead me and Guide me by Your Spirit in the way everlasting. You are my God and I will serve You.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
I am looking, I am listening
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Help me to know Your will (repeat)
The right word to say,
the best move to make
Who’s in need of a helping hand
For Your perfect ways are worthy of praise
I delight just to do Your plan
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
I am looking, I am listening
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Help me to know Your will (repeat to beginning)
Help me to know Your will
Help me to know Your will