Key Thought

So often, we assume that if an opportunity is presented to us, then we will have many other chances to respond to the same opportunity. However, experience eventually teaches most of us what God had tried to get us to see much earlier: opportunities are offered and then pass by us never to be offered quite the same way again. Jerusalem stood on the brink of history. Accepting Jesus as the way to peace offered great opportunity. Rejecting Jesus as the way of peace led to the destruction that would follow. Unfortunately this same rejection plays itself out repeatedly on a much smaller scale in the lives of so many people. They reject the way of the Lord in their youth, or in a time of rebellion, and think that he will be there for them to follow whenever and however they may choose. While they may eventually come to the Lord, they will waste much time, and they will also forfeit much peace as the consequences of their rebellion and procrastination bring them heartache after heartache. In addition, some can have their hearts become so hardened that they never wish to return to the Lord. Let's live and act with great urgency in the lives of those we love and ask God to help us reach them for Jesus so their lives and their eternities will not be squandered on what is not peace!

Today's Prayer

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus came near Jerusalem. He saw the city and began to cry for it. Jesus spoke to Jerusalem. He said, "I wish you knew today what would bring you peace! But you can't know it, because it is hidden from you. A time is coming when your enemies will build a wall around you. Your enemies will hold you on all sides. They will destroy you and all your people. Not one stone of your buildings will stay on top of another. All this will happen because you did not know the time when God came to save you." Jesus went into the temple area. He began to throw out the people that were selling things there. Jesus said, "It is written {in the Scriptures }, 'My house will be a house of prayer.' But you have changed it into a 'hiding place for thieves.' " Jesus taught the people in the temple area every day. The leading priests, the teachers of the law, and some of the leaders of the people wanted to kill Jesus. But all the people were listening closely to Jesus. They were very interested in the things Jesus said. So the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the leaders did not know how they could kill Jesus.

— Luke 19:41-48 (ERV)

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