PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 23:37-39
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)
Jesus has been strongly challenging and warning the religious leaders.
Here we see the heart behind the words, the deep compassion.
Jesus is God with us, reaching out to us, seeking to embrace us.
Jesus has been reaching out to the religious leaders in love.
But they have spurned his love, and rejected God’s grace.
They are so full of themselves they cannot see God’s love.
It is not because God wills to judge and condemn them.
It is rather God’s frustration that they won’t receive grace.
One encouraging thought, a day will come when they will see Jesus.
And at that time they will say “blessed is he” (23:39), not ‘crucify him!’
I sense Jesus’s longing to embrace me, and those who are slow to respond.
I senses God’s patient love continuing to woo us, despite our resistance.
My willingness is weak, but His is not; the day will come when we say…
Lord Jesus, blessed are You for continually coming in the name of God to embrace and help me… despite my slowness to respond. Thank you for not giving up on us!