Motivated by Love

One of the special moments in the life of Jesus is when he weeps over Jerusalem. The words are recorded by both Luke and Matthew: “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” (Luke 13:34).
These are words of deep love and compassion. They express a motherly desire to embrace and protect, to nurture and to guide. Instead, and hence the weeping, the children chose their own path and sought their own ends.
I believe the Lord still weeps over Jerusalem and the Middle East today. Yet not only so, He weeps over all the lost souls and lost sheep who He would long to draw to Himself.
That is our calling as well. During this month of August we are reflecting on our vision and direction for the next couple of years. You will be receiving, or already have received, a postcard invitation to our vision event on Sat August 23. Yet this will not simply be a matter of having good plans as much as having a heart that weeps for the lost, as Jesus wept for Jerusalem.
I love how the book of Colossians tells us in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3). Matthew gives us the parables of the treasure hidden in a field and the pearly of great price (13:44-46). Essentially the Scriptures tell us how precious beyond calculation it is to know Christ, and to be accepted and set free by Him.
I suspect we as Christians, myself included, often fail to appreciate just how amazingly privileged and honoured we are to be united with the living God through His Son. Truly, there are no greater riches, no higher calling, no more fulfilled life, no more exalted status.
This past week I have been re-reading Mark Durie’s book, The Third Choice, and it struck me how little we westerners understand the mindset of Islamic teaching, it is just so different (for example, as westerners we separate religion and politics, no such distinction in Islam, according to Durie). Likewise, the secular thought forms that predominate in our culture are often so very different as well (indeed, we have witnessed a determination lately to drive religion out of schools as well as politics – where else can it be driven from!?).
So as we think about the future, let us do so from Jesus’ perspective. He wept. He loved. And then He gave Himself to the mission before Him. May we be likewise moved in spirit for people today, fulfilling God’s mission for us out of love and compassion.