Matthew 23

 Matthew 23:37-39  The King of kings had entered Jerusalem, the City of David.. He cleansed the temple emphasizing  the most vital relationship that Israel had - fellowship with the One True God.  He indicted the religious leaders for their hypocrisy and failure to lead the people to the Truth.  He proved His authority and silenced those who had challenged it.  He exposed the sinfulness of those who claimed that they were most righteous.  He passed a sorrowful judgement of "woes" over those who failed to truly know the God they professed to serve. 

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."

You can hear His anguish in these words. It feels as if He is giving up the fight.. although we know He is not.. but, there is a finality here.. "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!" 

Jeremiah wrote, "Thus says the Lord, 'Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. For if you men will indeed perform this thing, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David's place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people.  But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,' declares the Lord, 'that this house will become a desolation.'"  (Jeremiah 22:3-5)   

And so it was. 

Andrew Murray wrote this, "God is spirit, holy and glorious. He gave us a spirit with one objective: that we might have fellowship with Him."  Jesus came to make that possible.  We see His heartache over the beloved city.. we can feel His love that was and is freely offered to His people. We can taste the bitterness .. the sting of that rejection.. "...you were unwilling". 

God desires fellowship with us as we worship Him in spirit and in truth. He desires for us to know the greatness of His all surpassing love. He has shown us His mercy, offering us redemption and forgiveness of all our sins.  He has laid down His own life to pay the debt we cannot pay.  He has done it all.. but tragically so many are still "unwilling". 

Father in heaven, You are holy and glorious.  We worship You in spirit and in truth. We are willing!  We surrender to Your will and put our entire lives.. our hearts, souls, and minds.. in Your Hands.  Oh how we love You! Thank You for loving us.. for choosing grace and mercy and goodness for us instead of giving up on Your creation.  We want that fellowship with You.. now and forever. We want others to come to know You and find salvation from the desolation to come. Send forth Your Word by Your servants into the harvest fields,  we pray. In Jesus' name, Amen.