"The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem. Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the Lord has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem." (Isaiah 52: 8,9-NLT)
Most people do not want to, "see Jesus returning to Jerusalem," because that would put an end to their self-imposed agnosticism, selfishness, thinking, philosophy, life style. When the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, returns everything will change for the disobedient, no more excuses, no more self-justification. It will be too late. The time for repentance, correction, "getting it right" will be over. If Jesus Christ's, "returning to Jerusalem," is not on our agenda or in our plans, they are doomed.
Jesus appeared the first time in Bethlehem as a helpless baby. Jesus will appear the second time in Jerusalem as The Conquering King. We are headed for Jerusalem, dear friend, not Washington, DC, not Berlin, not Tokyo, not Mogadishu . "Behold, He is coming...and every eye will see Him....And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him." National self-centeredness will be replaced by Christ-Centeredness. Those whose lives were spent fulfilling their own lusts, "will mourn because of Him." Those whose lives were spent in living, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," will, "break into joyful song."
"'Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,' says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 'But who will be able to endure it when He comes? Who will be able to stand and face Him when He appears? For He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away dross'" (Mal. 3).
Father, in Jesus' Name, I have no other prayer today but that my ears may hear and my eyes may see. Amen.
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Most people do not want to, "see Jesus returning to Jerusalem," because that would put an end to their self-imposed agnosticism, selfishness, thinking, philosophy, life style. When the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, returns everything will change for the disobedient, no more excuses, no more self-justification. It will be too late. The time for repentance, correction, "getting it right" will be over. If Jesus Christ's, "returning to Jerusalem," is not on our agenda or in our plans, they are doomed.
Jesus appeared the first time in Bethlehem as a helpless baby. Jesus will appear the second time in Jerusalem as The Conquering King. We are headed for Jerusalem, dear friend, not Washington, DC, not Berlin, not Tokyo, not Mogadishu . "Behold, He is coming...and every eye will see Him....And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him." National self-centeredness will be replaced by Christ-Centeredness. Those whose lives were spent fulfilling their own lusts, "will mourn because of Him." Those whose lives were spent in living, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," will, "break into joyful song."
"'Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,' says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 'But who will be able to endure it when He comes? Who will be able to stand and face Him when He appears? For He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away dross'" (Mal. 3).
Father, in Jesus' Name, I have no other prayer today but that my ears may hear and my eyes may see. Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
