It kills prophets and stones those sent to it

It listens to them but keeps its distance

It welcomes them and sends them away kindly

A hen sheltering her young beneath her wings

A farmer sorting grain into separate piles

Jerusalem is addressed directly at the beginning

God's messengers are described as being killed and stoned

Jesus wanted to gather the children close to himself

The gathering is compared with a bird protecting its young

Become willing to be gathered and stop resisting his care

Keep the invitation at arm's length and hope that is enough

Wait until you feel more deserving before responding

Stay distant so the call does not unsettle your plans

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I have resisted your call and gone my own way. I admit that I have sinned and that I need your mercy. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. Forgive me, gather me to yourself, and make you my Lord. I turn from my sin and trust you with my life. Amen.

Come Under Your Care

Lord, renew your Church where we have grown hesitant, scattered, and slow to respond. Give us ears to hear your patient call, hearts that stop resisting you, and a fresh desire to gather others into your sheltering care. Make us tender toward the lost and willing to follow when you call, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Gather Your Church Again

Thank God for his repeated desire to gather people who have refused him; thank him for continuing to call, correct, and protect; thank him that his compassion is stronger than our resistance.

Thank You for Patient Love

Pray by naming one area where you have been resisting Jesus. Ask him to gather you there, then ask for one small act of obedience you can take today.

Pray for a Willing Heart

Father, I bring before you the people and places that keep turning away from your kindness. Keep calling them with mercy, soften hard hearts, and draw them under your protecting care. Give me patience, courage, and compassion as I pray for them, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For Those Who Keep Refusing

Ask God to grow a willing heart in you, to heal the habit of keeping distance, to teach you how to rest under his care, and to make you quick to say yes when he calls.

Teach Me to Yield

Ἰερουσαλὴμ{i-e-roo-sa-LEEM###ee-eh-roo-sah-LEEM###Jerusalem} Ἰερουσαλήμ,{i-e-roo-sa-LEEM###ee-eh-roo-sah-LEEM###Jerusalem} ἡ{HEE###HEE###who} ⸀ἀποκτείνουσα{a-pok-TEE-noo-sa###ah-pohk-TEE-noo-sah###kills} τοὺς{TOOS###TOOS###the} προφήτας{pro-FEE-tas###proh-FEE-tahs###prophets} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} λιθοβολοῦσα{lee-tho-vo-LOO-sa###lee-thoh-voh-LOO-sah###stones} τοὺς{TOOS###TOOS###the} ἀπεσταλμένους{a-pe-stal-ME-noos###ah-peh-stahl-MEH-noos###sent ones} πρὸς{PROS###PROHS###to} αὐτήν—{af-TEEN###ahf-TEEN###her} ποσάκις{po-SA-kees###poh-SAH-kees###how often} ἠθέλησα{ee-THE-lee-sa###ee-THEH-lee-sah###I wanted} ἐπισυναγαγεῖν{e-pi-see-na-ga-YEEN###eh-pee-see-nah-gah-YEEN###to gather together} τὰ{TA###TAH###the} τέκνα{TEK-na###TEHK-nah###children} σου,{SOO###SOO###your} ὃν{HON###HOHN###in what} τρόπον{TRO-pon###TROH-pon###way} ⸂ὄρνις{OR-nees###OHR-nees###a hen} ἐπισυνάγει⸃{e-pi-see-NA-yee###eh-pee-see-NAH-yee###gathers together} τὰ{TA###TAH###the} νοσσία{no-SEE-a###noh-SEE-ah###chicks} ⸀αὐτῆς{af-TEES###ahf-TEES###her} ὑπὸ{hee-PO###hee-POH###under} τὰς{TAS###TAHS###the} πτέρυγας,{PTE-ree-gas###PTEH-ree-gahs###wings} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} οὐκ{ook###oohk###did not} ἠθελήσατε;{ee-the-LEE-sa-te###ee-theh-LEE-sah-teh###want}

Matthew 23:37 — Source TextTAB

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