When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” St. Luke 19:41-44 (NAS)
Sometime ago, my son Jonathan bought a few calves that weren’t exactly tame, but one little, black pirate was positively wild. He spooked and jumped through fences at the slightest movement in his direction. After several weeks of feeding, the calves continued to be wary of Jonathan and stubbornly ran the other direction when approached, even at feeding time. They simply refused to recognize him. They didn’t realize that he brought what they needed.
Of course you and I are not cattle, yet our behavior toward God isn’t all that different from Pirate and his cohorts. Consider this question posed by an unknown author: “How many times have we missed seeing God when he comes to us in a plain, everyday face?”
Jesus wept over his people because they didn’t recognize him when he brought them peace. Note the Lord’s words to Israel via Jerusalem: “the things which make for peace have been hidden from your eyes.”
In our lives, what has blinded us to the peace of God? Denying Christ as Savior and rejecting his sacrifice will certainly hide his peace from us. But Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28 NAS)
Dear Father, thank you for the peace you give through Jesus Christ. Empower us to recognize your visitation in our lives. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the peace of Christ,