Love That Sheds Tears

Our guest arose from the kitchen table and stretching out his hands he began to quote Isa 65: "Ready was I to answer men who never asked me, ready to be found by men who never sought me. I cried out, 'Here am I' to folk who never called to me. I have stretched my hands all day to unruly rebels, who lead a corrupt life pleasing themselves, a people who provoke me to my face continually" (vss. 1,2 Moffat).

He continued with tears. "I see Jesus stretching out his hands. What is he saying with hands outstretched? 'Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.' At times I visualize Jesus above the street corners in Kansas City where orphans are being abused. I thought of Him when I was in India where there are 22,000,000 orphans. God is saying to them as He said to Jerusalem: 'How often I've longed to gather you.' "That's the kind of God we serve. He doesn't delight in sending to hell."

When Adam sinned, God came to deal with him, not in that thundering voice we might expect from an enraged sovereign, but in a gentle examination. A child was reported missing in our city and a minister told of hearing on the news the mother calling for her daughter. In a heartbroken voice, the mother walked through the neighborhood calling with deep emotion: "Judy, Judy, Judy...."

He said, "As I heard her, I heard God calling Adam, Adam, Adam..." Surely the disappointment and sadness that must have been in God's voice, drove guilt deep into Adam.

We need to see a God who sorrows when we deliberately turn our back to Him even while, in His faithfulness, He is allowing us to suffer the consequences.

Jesus, help us to feel your compassion for those who sin against You and against us.

"O 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, but you were not willing" (Matt. 23:37).