THE INVITATION
THE INVITATION
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, 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
The Lord God Almighty desires people, whether Jew or Gentile, to be gathered to Himself today. He had sent messengers again and again to Israel, but the majority of them would not listen. Not only did they not want to listen to them, but many times they killed those who brought the heavenly message to them. Not much has changed today.
The Lord God Almighty is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). But not everyone is willing to come to Him. He desires “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4), but the majority are not willing. Let us be like the servants of old and bring the message to those around us that desperately need to hear because “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17).
We do not know those who will respond to the gospel. Our responsibility is to be sharing the gospel and it is the Lord God Almighty that makes his light shine in people’s hearts to give them “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6). Just as God said in the beginning of creation “Let light shine out of darkness” so also it is He that causes that light to shine in a person’s heart. But let us be like servants of long ago and like servants today and encourage people to “come to the waters.” Yes, may this be our heart’s desire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwIoSGY7bLY
Dear Father, may I be faithful in sharing Your Good News with people that they might be gathered to You. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.