“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19:41
How do we respond to those caught up in sin? The answer to that today seems to be with glee in pointing out their sin, in pride that we are so much better than they are, and a spirit of self-righteous judgement. Much of the Church today is more interested in calling out sinners and not calling to sinners of the love and mercy found in Jesus. When Jesus entered Jerusalem the week before he was crucified he didn’t look down on the city and proclaim, “I hope you burn.” He wasn’t planning his revenge or saying “You’ll get yours soon enough.” He wept over the city. He hurt for them because here he was their Messiah bringing peace to them and they wouldn’t receive it. He wasn’t being prideful in his remarks, he was broken for them.
In Matthew 9:35, 36 we read, “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Can we say we look at the world with compassion? Do we hurt for those who are lost, even the ones who don’t realize it. What I see too often of the church in our culture are people more interested in being right, than in being righteous, people clinging to power instead of clinging to the cross. Our response to sin should be a broken heart, both for our sin and the need for repentance and the sin of the world, because they are broken and need the mercy of God.
How will you choose to respond?
Don
How do we respond to those caught up in sin? The answer to that today seems to be with glee in pointing out their sin, in pride that we are so much better than they are, and a spirit of self-righteous judgement. Much of the Church today is more interested in calling out sinners and not calling to sinners of the love and mercy found in Jesus. When Jesus entered Jerusalem the week before he was crucified he didn’t look down on the city and proclaim, “I hope you burn.” He wasn’t planning his revenge or saying “You’ll get yours soon enough.” He wept over the city. He hurt for them because here he was their Messiah bringing peace to them and they wouldn’t receive it. He wasn’t being prideful in his remarks, he was broken for them.
In Matthew 9:35, 36 we read, “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Can we say we look at the world with compassion? Do we hurt for those who are lost, even the ones who don’t realize it. What I see too often of the church in our culture are people more interested in being right, than in being righteous, people clinging to power instead of clinging to the cross. Our response to sin should be a broken heart, both for our sin and the need for repentance and the sin of the world, because they are broken and need the mercy of God.
How will you choose to respond?
Don
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