Tag: Time of Visitation

Time of Visitation…

Luke 19:41-44

Now as Jesus drew near Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, and said, “If you, even you, had known, especially in this your day, the things that would bring you peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side. They will level you, and your children within you, to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

What solemn words our Lord Jesus spoke against Jerusalem – the place where the temple of God was established to be the sanctuary of His Holiness … the dwelling place of His Presence on earth. Indeed, Jesus lamented: “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.  Look, your house is left to you desolate.” (Luke 13:37-38)

I have pondered the anguished words Jesus expressed; and I’ve contemplated their relevance for those living in the world now who resist His call upon their hearts to believe in Him. The Prophet Isaiah once asked: “Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1) And later he affirms: “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’ (Isaiah 65:1)

The call of God for His creation to know Him is an eternal one. And the longing for God has been emplaced into each and every human heart. Indeed, the Scriptures inform us that God passionately desires fellowship with His people; however, to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him requires sincere faith in Him. As Jesus affirmed to the woman at the well, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

The inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews asserted, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) The Apostle Paul explained: “Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17) And Jesus declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

So, I would like to ask you, “Have you responded to the Holy Spirit who is prompting you to believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God?” He knocks on the door of every human heart … looking to come into your house … desiring to dwell within your heart … so that you might have the light and life of God. Indeed, Jesus says to you today: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:19)

Dear reader, it is my deepest hope that you will recognize the time of His visitation! I pray you will hear the voice of Jesus today and welcome Him into your soul! As Paul confirmed to those in Rome: “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that is being proclaimed to you: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:8-10)

My prayer is that you will not delay to open the door to your heart.  Yes, recognize the time of visitation is now … even today! As Paul urged in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, “Working together with God, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says (in Isaiah 49:8), “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Friend, do not let your house become desolate as happened to Jerusalem; rather, let your body become a temple for the Holy Spirit! Yes, let Jesus be your dwelling place. Abide in Him and He will abide in you! (John 15:4)


A Final Thought:

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

Have a Blessed Day!

Visitation…

Visitation…

Now as Jesus drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”~ Luke 19:41-44

Today we commemorate Palm Sunday – a day we ascribe as the beginning of the Holy Week leading to Easter Sunday when we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior. On this day, we recount the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. He rode upon a donkey, and a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road while others cut down palm branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the Highest!” (Cf. Matthew 21:1-17)

Yet, it was a solemn time of reflection for Jesus … knowing His impending death at the hands of those who had rejected Him. He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known … the time of your visitation.” Matthew recorded His lament as well: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37)

Indeed, Jerusalem was left desolate … the temple without one stone left upon another. Yes, judgement came to the people and the city because they did not recognize their time of visitation. Their Messiah … their King … sent by Father God to rescue them – but not from Imperial Rome but from their iniquities and sins.  He came as Savior:

John 1:10-13 (NKJV)

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Oh, my friend, have you too missed His visitation? Has Jesus come to you and you did not recognize Him?  Perhaps, like the Jewish people of His day, Jesus was not what you were expecting Him to be. Maybe you missed the Jesus who said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) Or maybe in your life of abundance, you too walked away sorrowful when Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21) As John articulated, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

I believe those who missed His visitation did not receive Jesus because He was not what they wanted Him to be … a Great Warrior King … a 5-Star General … to defeat the oppressive Roman government ruling over them. Although, Jesus did come as a King to usher in the Kingdom of God, He did not fit their ideas of what Messiah ought to be. His Kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36) Rather, Jesus is a ruler of hearts … a mighty warrior who has defeated the oppression of sin in the human heart.

Reader, I encourage you to consider His visitation. Perhaps, Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart right now. Would you invite Him in for a visit? I pray you will not send Him away weeping or lamenting: “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace.”

Have a Blessed Day!