By David ReayMonday 2 Dec 2013LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Matthew 23:37-39
37 “O Jerusalem,Jerusalem,the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings,but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now,look,your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this,you will never see me again until you say,’Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!'” (NLT)
Jesus didn’t get his way. His love was not always reciprocated. What he offered was often refused. This is illustrated by his lament over Jerusalem. He longed to bring them under his care,to have them see him as their long-promised Messiah. But they,with honourable exceptions,rejected him.
A reminder to us that we can’t always bring about a right relationship with others. We might offer forgiveness but unless the offer is accepted there is no reconciliation. It only takes one person to offer forgiveness; it takes two to achieve reconciliation. It is our task to love others,not to ensure right relationship with them. If it was not possible with Jesus,what makes us think we can guarantee it?
Sadly we sometimes have to live with broken relationships,rifts which are not healed. We may even feel guilty about this. But it would be false guilt if we have done what we can to bring healing. We can’t singlehandedly make all things right. We can only,like Jesus,keep making the offer. And perhaps,like Jesus,weep over the wounds we cannot heal.
Blessings
David Reay