Robbers or Pray-ers

“It is written, “ he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”                                                                Luke 19.46

The origins of these two references by Jesus are interesting. Jeremiah (7.11) refers to the unfaithfulness of the Jews. They steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods. Then they come and stand before me in this house declaring themselves to be safe. Yet, in reality, they have made God’s house a den of thieves.

Isaiah, on the other hand, talks of foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship him. These “foreigners” keep the Sabbath and hold fast to God’s covenant. God says, “These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.”

And this release of foreigners to worship the Lord God Almighty comes by the work of the servant of the Lord, the Son of Man.

Jesus has released me, so that I might be part of God’s house of prayer. I can do this only because of His work on my behalf. I praise Him for this. May I never mistreat this amazing privilege He has wrought for me. May I truly, respectfully come to God’s house of prayer and join faithfully with other “foreigners”, binding myself to Him, serving Him, loving Him and worshipping Him.

O wonderful God,

I thank You, precious Jesus, for allowing me to become part of the family of God with the privilege of entry into the House of Prayer. I come in respectful adoration. I bind myself to You. Let me serve You, love and worship You. May I hold fast to the covenant of love that unites us.

I know joy in You and I pray for an increase in joy. Hold me close, dear Lord. Help me to spread the message of love. Release me, please, into all the world to tell of Your love for all people and things.

I rejoice today in You. May my heart sing for You, and of You. Hallelujah! Bless Your name,                      Amen.

Weeping

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.”                                                                     Luke 19.41,42

Jerusalem has a special place in God’s story. It always will be special and so it is understandable that Jesus should weep on this day when He knew Jerusalem would reject the Messiah.

I have this image, also, of Jesus weeping for each single soul who rejects Him. This is the extent of God’s love. He yearns to save everyone. His love is greater than any rejection that humanity might exercise.

I see, in my mind’s eye, Jesus weeping for me. There is a part of me that sees this as incredible, unbelievable. But there is a small voice within me that says, “Believe this, for it is true. You mean so much to me, my tears are just a small manifestation of my love for you. Remember I gave my very life, and this was simply for you.”

I see Jesus weeping for those who do not yet walk with Him. He weeps for the very ones that I pray for. He weeps for them as He weeps for me. He saved me. I know He will save them.

Lord Jesus,

I thank You for the family You have given me. I pray for the souls of those who do not yet walk in fullness with You. I ask for salvation for them. Draw them to You, please. Visit them in life-changing encounter. Bring to them a clear revelation of the divine love.

Similarly I pray for those friends and acquaintances, neighbours and strangers who have not received You. My Lord, they are all in desperate need. Hear my prayer for them. Heed my cry. I see Your tears and I know they are not shed in vain. I thank You for the love You have for each one of us. You do not love without action. Save us all, Lord. Draw us to You in eternal relationship, bound through divine love.        Amen.

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Lost?

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”               Luke 19.10

Jesus’ purpose on earth is encapsulated by this verse. Yet He did not fulfil the mission in the whole earth. When He left this world many were still lost. And in the intervening years many, many more seem to be lost.

The early church shows dramatically how Jesus worked with and through His disciples. In concert they brought more of “the lost” into salvation. This I see as the work of the Body of Christ – the Father draws the individual to Jesus, and the believer, every believer, reaches out in love and acceptance. We are reminded of our part in this, as the Bible draws to a close, through the words of the Revelation to John:

         They overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (Rev. 12.11).

I have opportunity to work with Jesus in His sovereign mission. How might I do this?

I think Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus gives me good insight. Jesus saw that Zacchaeus was curious and so He followed through. To the chagrin of the “religious” of the day, Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home. He met Zacchaeus on his own territory. He ate with him. He shared in the most usual and normal environment for Zacchaeus.

This might be the way for me. Surly meeting people where they are at is the way to go. May I find those who, just like Zacchaeus, are curious.

Lord God,

I pray for encounters with the likes of Zacchaeus. I ask for those who are curious to “cross my path”. May I have opportunity to fellowship with them and to share the word of my testimony. I yearn to see the lost come to You. I pray for opportunities to connect. I ask for God-given encounters with those who are searching.

Dear Lord, I want to follow Jesus. I want to reach out in love and in the utmost grace. Help me, please. Lead me in Your way. Let me be Your instrument of peace and hope, in Jesus’ name.              Amen.

Mercy - and faith

He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”                                                      Luke 18.38, 39

The blind man recognised Jesus to be the Son of David, the Messiah. And he engaged in persistent acknowledgement. Jesus responded in the most positive way with that wonderful question, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The man wanted to receive his sight. Jesus granted this because of the faith the man had demonstrated.

I see here the simplicity of faith. The man believed – and that was that! He did not struggle with unnecessary theological issues. He was neither cowed nor influenced by the religious authorities of the day. He received Jesus in simple faith. And it was a strong faith. He knew that this was the Son of David, the Messiah. He was determined to declare his belief, and would not be silenced by anyone, whether they thought differently to him or even as he thought.

His clear declaration brought the sweetest consequence – to be asked by his Lord, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Holy Jesus,

I rejoice at the conviction of this man. I admire his faith and I pray that my own faith might be equally strong and enduring.

When told to be quiet, he declared Your glory all the more. Hallelujah! How wonderful! May this be the way with me. Let me know that calm but deep assurance that You are my Saviour and my Lord, my everything. May my faith give me the boldness to shout out Your praise, in defiance of any and all opposition.

The man knew who You were and also knew You. May this be so for me. I thank You and praise You in wonder and adoration.               Amen.