66 Tell everyone on this earth to shout praises to God! 2 Sing about his glorious name. Honor him with praises. 3 Say to God, “Everything you do is fearsome, and your mighty power makes your enemies come crawling. 4 You are worshiped by everyone! We all sing praises to you.”
5 Come and see the fearsome things our God has done! 6 When God made the sea dry up, our people walked across, and because of him, we celebrated there. 7 His mighty power rules forever, and nothing the nations do can be hidden from him. So don’t turn against God.
8 All of you people, come praise our God! Let his praises be heard. 9 God protects us from death and keeps us steady.
10 If you love Jerusalem, celebrate and shout! If you were in sorrow because of the city, you can now be glad. 11 She will nurse and comfort you, just like your own mother, until you are satisfied. You will fully enjoy her wonderful glory.
12 The Lord has promised: “I will flood Jerusalem with the wealth of nations and make the city prosper. Zion will nurse you at her breast, carry you in her arms, and hold you in her lap. 13 I will comfort you there like a mother comforting her child.”
14 When you see this happen, you will celebrate; your strength will return faster than grass can sprout. Then everyone will know that the Lord is present with his servants, but he is angry with his enemies.
This passage seems hard to work out in the current political situation in Jerusalem and Israel, but what it does point us to is the loving arms of God – reaching out to comfort his people. A parent gently holding their child, nursing and carrying. A promise, a hope, however things seem where we are today. It is in a similar vein to
Matthew 23:37Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn’t let me.
Have you ever had one of those dreaded cards through the door from the postman, saying that there wasn’t enough postage on a letter, and that you had to go and collect it and pay for it?
At our sorting office they always show you the envelope and give you the choice as to whether you want to pay for it or not. Now I am nosey, sorry interested, and so I always have to find out what it is. But the option is there to receive it or not. There is a choice to be made.
51 Not long before it was time for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent some messengers on ahead to a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. 53 But he was on his way to Jerusalem, so the people there refused to welcome him. 54 When the disciples James and John saw what was happening, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy these people?”
55 But Jesus turned and corrected them for what they had said. 56 Then they all went on to another village.
Three People Who Wanted To Be Followers
57 Along the way someone said to Jesus, “I’ll go anywhere with you!”
58 Jesus said, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man doesn’t have a place to call his own.”
59 Jesus told someone else to come with him. But the man said, “Lord, let me wait until I bury my father.”
60 Jesus answered, “Let the dead take care of the dead, while you go and tell about God’s kingdom.”
61 Then someone said to Jesus, “I want to go with you, Lord, but first let me go back and take care of things at home.”
62 Jesus answered, “Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn’t worth a thing to God’s kingdom!”
Jesus does not butt in where he is not wanted. He is ready and willing to come to anyone, but not if they don’t want him.
So there is a choice to be made – do we want to receive Jesus or not? Are we going to go where Jesus goes? Or do we have other things we want to attend to?
It’s a decision each of us has to make for ourselves. A choice to be made in reality each day of our lives.
Today, Jesus comes to you. Will you receive him or not? Will you choose to go where he goes? Or do you have other things to do?
Lord,
today
I hear your invitation,
your call to me.
Today I have a choice,
to receive you or turn you away,
to go your way or my own.
Pam's Perambulation 