Are You Happy?

Proverbs 3: 13 – Happy is the man that finds wisdom and the man that gets understanding.

    The world is searching for happiness and unfortunately, it may be more elusive than people would like to admit. God, however, offers happiness to us as a result, not as a goal. The man who finds wisdom is happy because wisdom solves problems; it brings answers to perplexing situations. Wisdom gives insight into the why of a thing. Why am I in this trouble? Why is my financial situation like it is, or my marriage and family? Why do I keep making poor choices? Wisdom answers the question of why and it gives insight into reasons and causes. It also answers the how of a circumstance, or situation. How am I going to resolve this difficulty? How are we going to overcome this challenge? How am I going to change?

    Notice that this verse does not say, wise is the man that finds happiness; it says, happy is the man that finds wisdom. Wisdom is to be our life quest, not happiness. Like anything of true value, wisdom must be found; it must be discovered, but first, it must be desired. Wisdom comes to those who desire it and have the right motive for wanting it. Wisdom isn’t just going to bring a change to our circumstances; it will bring a change to us first; it changes our thinking, our values, and our choices.

    Instead of pursuing what I think is the answer or the solution, I need to pursue wisdom and then let wisdom dictate to me the steps to take which will solve the problem. Someone has once said that all problems are wisdom problems, meaning that we usually get into them through a lack of wisdom and conversely, wisdom will lead us out of them. God’s wisdom answers every need of man and it goes right to the root of the trouble. Most people only want relief from the pressure of a difficult situation and God is indeed merciful and will bail us out, however, if we are bailed out once, we will most likely need many more instances of rescue from our continued poor choices. If we want any kind of lasting change, we, ourselves, must change. Diets alone don’t work; a change of eating patterns does. Simply attending a rehabilitation program doesn’t work; a change in thought patterns does. Financial consolidation, by itself, doesn’t work; a change in spending patterns does. Joining a gym doesn’t work; a change in exercise patterns does.

    The man that finds wisdom is happy because he finally feels like he is on the right path and even though things may be hard and the road may be uphill, he is happy because he is heading in the right direction and knows that he will eventually get to where he is going. To pursue God’s wisdom is to align ourselves with His plan and purpose and that gives great meaning and fulfillment to our everyday lives. His wisdom puts us on the journey of a higher destiny and produces a sense of peace and contentment which no amount of money or worldly treasure could give us.

    You may not be able to see your wisdom-answers because they are hidden, but just as parents hide things before their children go on a treasure hunt, they are not hidden from you, they are hidden for you. Wisdom-treasures await all those who seek. Happy is the man that finds wisdom. Are you happy?

God's View of Greatness

Matthew 18:4 – Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.

    God’s idea of greatness and the process for obtaining it are vastly different from this world’s idea. First, it is important to realize that He is not against greatness. The disciples asked Him, ‘Who is the greatest?’ If aspiring to greatness were wrong, He would have immediately corrected them. He might have said something like this, ‘Now boys, you should know better, everyone is equal in the kingdom of God, no one is greater than another.’ However, He did not correct them. He did not brush off the idea of greatness. The kingdom of Heaven is not a uniform, bland and mindless community, but it is a progressive, innovative, and productive society. Please do not misunderstand me; we are all precious to God and equal in value, but we are not and never shall be, equal in roles, function, or capabilities. We all have amazing potential, but those who are the greatest are those who accept responsibility, take the initiative, and use what they have been given.

    This verse is teaching us that even though the idea of greatness is not wrong, quite often our definition of greatness and our motives for greatness are wrong. The prophet Jeremiah once asked the question, ‘Are you seeking great things for yourself?’, and then he commanded, ‘Seek them not.’ Jesus said that humility is the pathway to greatness. So, instead of focusing on being great and our status in life, we should focus on humility and our service in life and give that a place of priority in our lives.

    Humility is one of those qualities that we do not hear much about, even though it is essential for building a solid foundation for life. What is humility? Among other things, it is surrendering to the will of God and His plan no matter what process it takes you through. Joseph’s life is a good example of that. His humility and the will of God took him from the deep pit to the harsh prison and then to the luxurious palace. Joseph surrendered and accepted subservient tasks, but he also must have had the humility to accept the huge responsibility of promotion, when it finally came. Someone has said that our greatest fear may not be failure but success, because with success comes larger responsibilities. With failure comes sympathy from others and our own rationalization that says, ‘Oh well, I tried.’ When God spoke to Moses about approaching Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to demand the release of the Israelites, Moses resisted out of some form of what we might call humility, but God was less than impressed. Moses had to surrender his own agenda and accept with humility the high place of responsibility that God had asked him to take.

    Childishness is a trait that holds us back from growth and it desperately needs to be removed from our lives, but childlikeness is the key to the kingdom of Heaven. Little children have much to teach us, they are open to new ideas and suggestions; they do not say, ‘I know that already.’ Children are teachable which means that they are without pride. If humility is the path to greatness, then pride must be the path to diminishment and destruction. Pride is the great hindrance to our advancement in God’s plan and purpose. Pride is resisted by God, humility is reinforced.

    I once heard the story of how a man drove into a small town and inquired of an older man who was sitting outside the general store, ‘Were there any great men born in this town?’ The old man didn’t even look up as he responded, ‘Nope. Only babies’. Greatness is not something you are born with; greatness is developed. Just as a seed carries within it possibilities of growth and productivity, so, God has given each of us the potential to be great. Use what you have been given, no matter how small it may seem. Sow the seeds that you have in your hand. Plant it. Nurture it. Trust God and watch it grow into something great!

Guarding Against a Deadly Virus

Proverbs 14:30 - A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

    When the Bible refers to the heart it is referring to the inner being, which would include the spirit, the mind, the will, and the emotions; basically, everything that is within and unseen. The New Testament further describes the heart when it speaks of the inward man or the hidden man. This verse revealed long ago what medical science only recently discovered; the condition of the man on the inside affects the condition of the man on the outside; spirit affects flesh.

    A sound heart is a healthy, contented heart, one that is filled with peace and free from strife; it may not be free from occasional trouble, but it is free from constant turmoil. People that do not compare themselves with others and are happy with what they have, also seem to be the healthiest people. Our attitudes affect our emotions which, in turn, affect our bodies. That is not to suggest that all sick people are unhealthy on the inside, by no means. Everyone is susceptible and will be challenged with some form of sickness in their life, or in the lives of their loved ones, however, there appears to be a priority laid out for us if we are seeking a long-term answer for our condition.

    When something is of great value to us, we are vigilant and diligent in keeping it safe. Likewise, we must guard the greatest treasure, which is our heart and must always be alert to its condition. In today’s world, we are very aware of keeping our bodies fit. We understand the value of eating nutritiously and exercising regularly, and most of us agree with that. However, if we do not maintain peace and soundness of heart, our steady intake of whole foods and our daily vigorous workouts may be in vain.

    Envy is the type of thing that needs time to become entrenched in a person’s life. It does not simply show up one day and ruin one’s life; it is very subtle and initially appears as something much less dangerous than it is. Envy is lethal, and, like poison, it functions best when undetected. It silently searches to gain entrance and then slowly suppresses the life of its host; it is indeed a cunning and ruthless predator.

    Many times, we confuse envy with jealousy and rightly so, because they are close cousins. It is important, however, to discern the difference. Jealousy is a trait that wants what another person has, and it seems to be satisfied once it possesses what it desires. If a jealous person sees that someone has gotten a new car, for example, then they are happy once they too, get a new car. Envy, on the other hand, goes much further; it doesn’t care to have what another possesses; it just cares that the other does not have it. Envy does not care to have the new car; it only cares that the other person does not have it. Jealousy may curb and deter a person, but envy corrupts and destroys a person right to the core; indeed, as our verse says, they become bad to the bone.

    Envy is a malicious enemy that destroys all in its path. It attacks your spirit and consumes your vitality. It is a deadly, invisible and highly contagious virus. Beware and be alert, because many strong people have been infected and have succumbed to its power.

    The answer, friends, like all of God’s answers, is simple; maintain a sound heart. A sound heart is a heart that is free from envy, and what a wonderful freedom that is. Those who have obtained and enjoy this freedom understand what it takes to preserve it because the enemy once driven out must also be kept out by posting alert sentries at the door of our hearts.

Breathe in His Strength

2 Samuel 22:33 - God is my strength and power: and he makes my way perfect.

    Someone has once said that when you come to the end of yourself, you find the beginning of God. If that is true, then when we are the weakest and feeling the most powerless, we may just be in the best position to experience God as our personal strength and power and, by so doing, we will embrace another aspect of His character and enjoy a closer relationship with Him.

    The ancient Hebrew word for God, in this verse, means the strong and mighty one; He is all-powerful and all-mighty; He is ultimate strength. He is the Creator. He is the One who created the heavens and the earth and set our existence in motion. He is the God of the billions and the One who cares for all and sustains each of us. He is the Almighty One, the Father and Source of life, and because of this, He is worthy of our praise.

    It is always good to focus on God; however, David is not focusing on God alone; he is also focusing on his personal relationship with God. He is my strength. He is my power. He makes my way perfect. The Almighty God is my God. It is possible that this is one of the reasons God spoke of David as a man after His own heart; he made God his God; he made faith in God an intimate matter.

    Many times, we might look at others and think of how faithful they are, or how disciplined they are, or maybe, how kind they are, and we have no problem believing that God will bless and help and strengthen them. In contrast, we sometimes look at ourselves and remind ourselves of how many times we have failed or fallen, but we mustn’t fixate on ourselves, we must get our eyes on Him and His willingness to use His power on our behalf. He is my strength; mine, not just another’s, but, my strength. I, with all my failings, with all my flaws, have the offer of God’s personal touch. He is my God, my strength, my power, and He is with me, as close as the very air I breathe.

    God is. Notice that he did not say that God was. No! God is, and He will always be. As we age, we may hear ourselves speak of things that we used to do. I used to lift hundreds of pounds at the gym. I used to work hard and never grow tired. I used to be able to eat anything and never gain weight. We may also speak of how we used to be strong in the Lord. We used to read and enjoy the Bible. We used to be active and involved with others. Sadly, however, that is the language of regret and lament and it remains stuck in the past. That is also the language of despair and hopelessness; it is trapped; repeating its cycle of history.

    The language of faith, however, brings everything up to date. God is. He is my current strength. He is my present power. He is, right at this moment, making my way perfect. He is not the strength of yesterday or that of tomorrow. Like the oxygen, which we cannot re-use, or store up, He is only available right now, and, identical to the oxygen, He is needed right now.

    Go ahead, friends, breathe in the fresh air of God’s grace and strength. Inhale His mercy, exhale your failings. Inhale His acceptance, exhale your rejection. Inhale His strength, exhale your frailty. Inhale His hope, exhale your despair. And just like the inhaled oxygen courses its way through our bloodstream bringing health as it flows, so God’s strength is coursing its way through your spirit, your mind, your emotions and your body. Whisper it every day and shout if you need to; God is my strength and power!

Are You Well-Adjusted?

Proverbs 1:8 – My son, Hear the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother.

    God speaks to us as His own sons and daughters, and because He does, our hearts are reassured of security for the future. A father is one who initiates a life but also inspires that life toward the future. My son, you are uniquely connected to a family. You have been born into protection and provision and you have been given a place in the home which is filled with love.  You do not need to struggle for identity, or clamour for attention; you have it. You are my son. You have a wealth of privileges. However, you also have a great responsibility because of what you have. To whom much is given, much is required. You are my son and that means that you are to be the builder of the family name. As sons and daughters, we are to build the family of God; that is our great calling. To build takes time and it takes tact and skill. We are builders of people, not destroyers.

    To hear the instruction of your Father is to pay great attention. It is so easy to be within the sound of someone’s voice but not truly hear. We might hear, that is, our eardrum may have vibrated with sound, but our mind has not caught the meaning of the sound. We must train ourselves to hear; to listen very closely and pay great attention. If we never actually hear and listen to God or others, there will never be any change in our life. Good counselors those who have trained themselves to hear what people are saying. If we get this listening part right, we are covering a lot of ground on the right path.

AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS, WE ARE TO BUILD THE FAMILY OF GOD; THAT IS OUR GREAT CALLING.

    

What is it that we are to pay attention to? We are to hear the Father’s instruction. When we hear the term instruction, we most often think of teaching and education, but it includes so much more. A skillful parent is one who not only teaches the child but trains the child. The time comes when the little ones must stop wearing diapers and so we train them, we do not just instruct; truly, it is not called potty-teaching. Training is the important thing, both in child-rearing and in life, and all of us must be continually trained in the ways of our Father.

    The instruction of the Father also includes warnings, which, if heeded, can save a person from a lot of unnecessary trouble. Warnings are always given ahead of time so that the one being warned can slow down, make the necessary adjustments, and thereby avoid harm. There are extreme weather warnings and there are construction-site hazard warnings; there are health warnings on the cigarette package and there are labels warning us of flammable material. Wise and rare is the one who heeds God’s warnings.

THE TIME COMES WHEN THE LITTLE ONES MUST STOP WEARING DIAPERS AND SO WE TRAIN THEM, WE DO NOT JUST INSTRUCT; IT IS NOT CALLED POTTY-TEACHING.

    

Can we receive the instruction and accept the correction of our Father? If we are being corrected by God, it is because He loves us and wants us to mature and learn to make better choices, thereby creating a better and more stable life. Are we teachable? Or do we think we already know? We live in an uncorrected society. Many adults of today did not have proper training by correction and so, do not know how to respond when being corrected. This is quite tragic because these very same adults are now in positions of authority in government, workplaces and, yes, even churches; we have uncorrected leaders and so the cycle of diminishment and depletion continues.

    Let us settle this fact; we will never outgrow the need to be instructed, corrected and re-directed. Indeed, our progress is qualified by our response to God’s correction; if we constantly defend ourselves and make excuses, we will never change. Correction is normal to any life; the captain of the airplane makes constant corrections to the speed and route of the aircraft so that the passengers will arrive safely at their intended destination. Be encouraged, friends, because the Captain of our salvation also makes constant corrections to our demeanor and direction so that our lives will fulfill His intention and we will arrive safe and sound, welcomed with open arms at the door of His house.

Wisdom is Calling You

Wisdom is Calling You

Proverbs 1:20 – Wisdom cries without, she utters 

her voice in the streets.

    God offers His wisdom to all people, regardless of their station or status in life. It is available to all, but its procurement is conditional. Wisdom is offering herself to us but, like a beautiful, secure woman, she doesn’t chase after love, fishing for compliments, she waits to be pursued and chased after. The Wisdom of God does not randomly or erratically fall on people, it is given only to the hungry. Do you and I truly desire wisdom? Whatever we desire is what we will pursue, in fact, the pursuit is the evidence of desire. We may say that we want wisdom, but it does not come to lazy and lethargic people; it does not come to dreamers who sit down and put their feet up and merely hope for a better day.

    Wisdom cries and that cry must be responded to. The cry of hunger and the cry of humility must come up out of us to meet the cry of wisdom; indeed, the deep and hidden longings of God are crying out to the deep and hidden longings of man. The supply of wisdom in God’s heart is calling out to the need for wisdom in man’s heart.

    Wisdom cries without; which means it cries from outside of us. We do not have it internally, or naturally, it is separate from us and we must go get it. It is outside of our natural ability to produce true wisdom. Sometimes people in business might say that they need outside help; meaning that they need someone else to come from outside the organization and give an impartial perspective. Wisdom is just like that in that it is an uninfluenced and separate power being offered from an outside source.

    If it is not randomly given, then, who gets the wisdom? Those who hunger and seek for it. Those who are humble enough to realize that they need it. Those who desire it and are determined to acquire it. Those who make it a life-long quest. They are the ones who will benefit from the wise insight of the Almighty.

Are you and I included in that class of rare people who have enough humility and sense to know that they need higher wisdom? Are we that kind of people who intensely hunger for this wisdom and seek it out at the only true source? Wisdom is calling, are we answering the call?

Are You the Author?

1 Corinthians 14:46 - What? Came the word of God out from you? Or, came it unto you only?

    Human nature has not changed since the beginning of time or, shall we say, at least since the fall of Adam. That is why the Scriptures are continually current. God's word will never be out of date because it simply states things as they are, and its’ true principles always correlate to our circumstances and our condition. It has been said that we do not actually read the Bible, it reads us. The word of God cuts through all the facade of our self-confident arrogance and self-imposed ignorance and pierces the heart with truth.

    In Paul's letters to the Corinthians, we learn much about human nature and certain tendencies which are our collective and continual struggle today, as well. If we read and study closely, and listen with humility, we can gain wisdom and avoid falling into the same traps as they did.

    The Corinthians had many problems, but one major recurring nuisance was the issue of pride. Paul, in his distinctive fashion, deals directly with the trouble like a surgeon with a scalpel cutting out cancer and his words apply very fittingly to us today.

    Paul uses questions to shock them and arouse thought; What? He seems surprised and almost appalled. What? How dare any of you to think this way. How audacious. How impudent. You obviously have a short memory as it was only a few years ago that I came to you bearing the Word of God. Have you forgotten? All parents understand the use of this question. What? What did you do? What did you say? What were you thinking?

    How arrogant of us to imagine that the Word of God originated with us, or that we are somehow more special than others, but isn't that exactly what we do when we portray ourselves as the only group that is being used of God to reach people and bring about change in our land? Now, granted, we do not vocalize that terminology because we know that to speak that way would be the peak of self-exaltation, however, we certainly do imply these things in the way and the manner which we conduct ourselves. The message is received loud and clear without verbalizing it. We are the ones among whom the revelation has come. We are the ones whom God has entrusted with this message and we have been chosen for His use. We might not say it but, by that attitude, we look down our noses at our poor brothers who obviously do not have the light. Apparently, they simply are not able to receive the truth that we have been entrusted with.

    To believe that the Word of God has come out from us only, would be as ridiculous as believing that the alphabet originated with us. No, the alphabet is a gift from God to us and it is the building blocks with which we build. We did not create it and we cannot assume authorship of it. The raw materials are God's, in fact, He is the Alpha and Omega; He is the alphabet. There are no other letters that exist, we don’t need any other ones, in fact, it is vain and useless to look for more. He is ultimate completion and we are complete in Him. The only thing that we need to do is to creatively assemble the letters and prayerfully combine the words to bring His Word and His Message to our culture and the people around us.

    The Word of God is given to us through many different channels, but it does not originate in the channel; it originates with God. He has chosen to reveal Himself to us through His Word. He has mercifully disclosed His heart to us and because of that we can know Him and walk with Him. Instead of being prideful about the portion of truth we have, we should simply be grateful; grateful that God has opened our eyes and allowed us to see Him and to hear His voice. No, the Word of God did not come out from us and it did not come to us only. It is His Word that comes from His heart and it is for all people; every nation; every culture; everyone.

    Thank you, Father God for bringing your Word to us; you have radically changed our lives, and thank you for allowing us to be channels of your message of grace and healing to others!

Twelve Years of Joy and Twelve Years of Sorrow

Twelve Years of Joy and Twelve Years of Sorrow

Luke 8:42, 43 - For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age…And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years…

    In this section of Scripture, it appears that we have an interesting comparison of a season of time in two lives; that of Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the issue of blood.

     The young girl is the only child of Jairus and his wife, and we can just imagine how much joy she brought to them. We don’t know, but it is possible that they had tried for more than one child, however, their daughter was all they were given and so she became the only precious little one; the bright light bringing great meaning to their lives. Anyone who has had the privilege of having children born into their family knows that life is never the same again. Life takes on a new focus and all of it is centered on the care, nurture and protection of that sweet little one. Even hard-hearted men are quickly softened by the arrival of a baby and especially so when that baby is a girl.

    Twelve years of having a beautiful little girl in the house. Twelve years of joy and laughter. Twelve years of snuggles and giggles and playing house. Twelve years of innocent curiosity about the world. The first words, the first steps, the first day of school; all such joy-filled moments fixed in the memory and cherished by parents.

    Twelve wonderful years were spent watching this beautiful girl grow into a young woman. Jairus may have thought of the day when a young man would come knocking on the door looking for his daughter. Our little treasure. How will we ever let her go? Raising children is a bittersweet experience because, at some point, you realize that they will not remain in this place of young innocence for long.

    Every life is like a river; it is constantly moving and the current never stops. The water is never the same each moment; truly we never step into the same river twice. The water has gone by us unable to be contained in our hands. The lives of our children are like the river; they also flow by us and we cannot hold on to them; we cannot keep them at a certain age. Oh, how we would love to keep our little ones in the place of innocence where the world can never hurt them, but alas, it cannot be so. To live is to love and to love is to give away and give away we must, or we will hinder our children and limit their future. The truth is these little ones are not ours; they are the children of God; they belong to Him; we are simply stewards.

    Jairus and his wife had enjoyed those years and they seemed to have gone by so quickly, but for a certain lady who lived in the same region, the last twelve years were not enjoyed and did not go by quickly; they were a long, drawn-out and dark nightmare.

    Twelve years she had this condition and no matter how she sought relief, it never improved, it only got worse. Twelve years of struggling to keep her hopes up that, one day, life could go back to normal. Twelve years of physicians, poking and prodding and asking questions. Twelve years of various treatments, some of which, in those days, may have bordered on torture. Twelve years of suffering the loss of friendships and simple pleasures.

    Up until the time when her affliction came, she was most probably a wife and a mother and had enjoyed the blessing of family life. We know that she was a woman who had a measure of wealth and, no doubt enjoyed the social status that comes with having means. The community events and fundraisers, the family gatherings and celebrations had all become a faint memory.

    The loss of blood ran parallel to the loss of everything else in her life; her blood ebbed slowly away; her dreams ebbed slowly away; her strength receded little by little; her faith receded little by little. As she grew weaker, it seemed her misgivings grew stronger. Why has this happened to me? Have I done something wrong? Has God forsaken me?

    The strict and harsh religious people loved to look down their noses and point fingers at the suffering ones; indeed, their religious relatives still live today. She endured twelve years of accusation and judgement; misunderstanding and mishandling; criticism and condemnation. Twelve long years.

    What season of life are we in? Is it a season of joy or a season of sorrow? For undeniably, life brings both, and Jesus is present in both. As a friend, He laughs with us in our joys and records them so we can remember, and as a comforter, He cries with us in our sorrows and removes the pain from our memory. He is the Great Companion and Consoler who never abandons or forsakes us. Twelve years of joy, twelve years of sorrow.

The Weeping Jesus

John 11:35 – Jesus wept.

     Jesus is the perfect picture of a man created in the image of God and He is the only man who has never lost his God-given identity and purpose. He represents all that the Father God originally intended for us.  He came to live a life before us and exemplify the heart of the Father God. As this man-of-all-men stood before the grave of His dear friend, Lazarus, He wept.

    Jesus wept because death was never part of the plan of God; it was, and still is, an enemy, a bully and an intruder into the life of mankind. Death and all that is associated with it is foreign to God, it is not in His heart or His plan. God is light and in Him, there is no darkness and He is also life and in Him, there is no death.

    Jesus wept because of His friend. He wept because of Mary and Martha. He wept because the loss of a loved one and the heavy sorrow that comes with it was never His heart for us. Just as any good parent does not want their child to suffer sorrow and heartache, so Jesus felt the loss of Lazarus and his family, and He felt the collective loss of all humanity.

    Jesus wept for Lazarus because he had been taken much too soon. He wept because the religious culture had taught them that God was the one who had taken him. Our gracious Father has been lied about, He has been misrepresented and slandered throughout the centuries. He does not take; He is the supreme giver. He does not need to kill people so that He can have them in Heaven with Him; wouldn’t that be considered extremely selfish? Let it be said with great emphasis and constant repetition; He is not the taker. He does not take, however, He does receive those that leave. God is not the author of death!

    Jesus wept because of humanity’s loss of faith; they could not believe in the power of His resurrection life. They could not see beyond what their senses were telling them. They could not see how God could answer this situation. They could not see past the horizon of their own knowledge; they were imprisoned in their hopelessness and because of who He is, our compassionate Christ shed tears for them.

    Jesus wept because mankind had lost their identity and purpose for living. The people of Earth have been lied to and the lie has brought untold misunderstanding, it has distorted our once-clear vision. Confusion and despair, indeed, the death of hope has brought us to the brink of self-destruction.

    Jesus wept because He wasn’t afraid to weep; He wasn’t ashamed of His emotions and deep feelings. He wept because He felt the sting of God’s plan gone awry. He wept because He came to bear the burden of all men; He identified so keenly with the universal human struggle. He wept because things were not as they should be, and He longed to put things right. He wept because He was and still is the Intercessor who pleads with God for lost and downtrodden souls.

    Jesus is the ultimate Man and so all who follow Him will also follow Him in His weeping over all of mankind. His weeping was a prayer and His tears were a plea; it was a way of drawing close to the sufferer and it was a wordless appeal to the Father’s heart. We must follow Him in this tearful compassion for others.

    Oh, that the heart of Jesus would manifest through us in weeping, groaning, pleading and claiming. Weeping for the wayward ones, groaning over the destruction of precious lives, pleading the merits of the sacrifice of Christ and claiming the fulfilment of the promises of God.

    Jesus wept and the Father heard. Jesus wept and the Father responded.  Jesus wept and Martha hoped, Mary trusted and Lazarus rose. Jesus wept!