majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 20:44,
"...you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Jesus foretold the judgment that was now going to come to Jerusalem
because, as a people, Jerusalem and the Jews failed to recognize God's
visit to them in the form of Jesus' appearance. God visited the nation
of Israel in a startling way, through the incarnation of his Son Jesus
Christ. The direct purpose was to offer his kingdom and Israel missed
it, they passed on it. Earlier, in the previous chapter, Jesus said,
"The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10.
He spent his earthly ministry offering the kingdom of God to Israel
and Israel missed it!
This brings to mind the reality that at some time or another, and
possibly on a number of occasions, God visits each of us. Will we
recognize those times God comes to us? Paul asks the question, "Did
they not hear?" Romans 10:18. He answers by quoting Psalm19:4, "Of
course they did: 'Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their
words to the ends of the world.'" The point Paul makes is that the
very creation itself speaks on God's behalf as a given, and that, more
specifically, he sends certain ones to us all, "How, then, can they
call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in
the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are
sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring
good news!'" Romans 10:14-15. God sends his messengers to all.
God wants us all. "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Also, "God
our Savior… wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of
the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4. He sent his Son Jesus Christ to die on
our behalf, taking the penalty of our sins on himself. He sent his Son
to offer his kingdom, to offer entrance into his family, if we would
but embrace him in faith, "To all who received him, to those who
believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…"
John 1:12.
Further, he wants us to become spiritually mature, to take on the
likeness, the image of Jesus Christ, "those God foreknew [those he
knew ahead of time that would embrace him in faith] he also
predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…" Romans 8:28.
God comes to us to bring this about, "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and
will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26. God
comes to visit us to bring about this growth process in our lives.
Will we recognize the time of God's coming to us? Will we see him
coming? Will we welcome him into our hearts? Will we embrace all he
has for us? May we not be of those he has said, "All day long I have
held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." Romans
10:21.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd
love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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