092019 - Staff Devotion

Look at that view. It’s beautiful. Sometimes, I stand out here and just stand in awe.

And this reminds me of a story in the Bible where Jesus stood on the mount of Olives, looking out over the city of Jerusalem. Luke records Jesus’ response to seeing the city.

mat 23:37-

Luke 19:41–44 ESV

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Matthew 23:37–39 ESV

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

luke 19:41-

What can we learn from Jesus?

1. Love your city.

They literally had a history of ignoring God and killing the prophets. But Jesus loved the city anyway.

Vallejo is not perfect and while this view is beautiful, let’s not ignore that at the street level, there are problems. But how do solve those problems? By loving the people and pointing them towards Jesus.

Now....that’s huge, but we don’t change the city in a day. it’s one act of love at a time, one person at a time. And a lot of the time, the person God’s puts in our path to love is not someone we want to love. They are often annoying....infuriating....love them anyway.

2. Weep over your City.

Jesus cried over the city because he knew they weren’t where they were supposed to be.

Here is the difference between Jesus’ response and ours. We often respond in anger. We often tear down. But Jesus’ response was appropriate. He just cried. Because the city broke his heart.

I think for us, there are parts of Vallejo that should break our hearts.

3. Look for the beauty in the city

Now we know that Jerusalem is and was a beautiful city filled with beautiful people. And how often do just a few ruin it for everyone.

Our city comes to us everyday.

Let’s love these students, so that they can’t be equipped to love their city and change their city.