Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁴³  “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side,

 ⁴⁴ and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Sometimes, the “little” words in Scripture can mean so much.  In yesterday’s devotion, I struggled with mentally dismissing the importance of the words “As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives” in verse 37.  I thought:  “Why pay any attention to it?”  But, thanks to God’s grace, I concluded:  “All of Scripture is important.  Although it may not be the focal point of a particular devotion, I need to think about it.” 

And now, for today’s devotion, as I read the words “When He approached Jerusalem”, I remembered this “approach” connection between the two passages which induced a comparison of the two passages.  It interested me that the prior passage was a time of joy for Jesus (as He was praised by the whole crowd of disciples) compared to today’s passage which was a time of sorrow for Jesus as He wept over the thoughts of what would happen to Jerusalem.

Sometimes, we too go from times of joy to times of sorrow.  We have plenty of times of joy, and I am not saying that when we do experience such joy that we should somehow reserve our happiness, expecting “the other shoe to drop” (namely, expecting some bad thing to occur).  But, I do think that we can receive such times of joy as a period of strengthening for whatever and whenever some time of sorrow may come. 

In other words, we should not just receive a time of joy as just a temporary happiness like eating an ice cream cone.  Rather, we should receive a time of joy with wisdom recognizing that God will likely use it to prepare us somehow for the future.  

We tend to read Romans 8:28 as only applying to “bad” things (times of sorrow).  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  But, this verse also applies to “good” things (times of joy).  God causes those “good” things (times of joy) to also work for our good.      

In the Scripture in which “Jesus wept” over the death of Lazarus, John Chapter 11, the preceding experience was likely a time of joy for Jesus.  “And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there.  Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.”  Many believed in Him there.”  John 10:40-42. 

And, the time of sorrow for Jesus over the death of Lazarus was immediately followed by a time of great joy for Jesus, the resurrection of Lazarus!  Not only does God give us a time of joy to prepare us for a time of sorrow, God “sandwiches” such times of sorrow within times of joy!

As we approach those times of joy, may those times of joy prepare us to approach those times of sorrow!

We will conclude with a prayer –

Dear Father in Heaven:

Thank You for those times of joy.  You fill us with the Holy Spirit Whom continually gives us joy.  You anoint us with abundant and overflowing times of joy.

But, we do recognize that there is also light affliction, times of sorrow.  But, You catch every one of our tears in Your bottle.  Psalm 56:8.  Our tears are precious to you and are used by You for our good.

Please work wisdom within us so that we do not only temporarily enjoy those times of joy, but that we recognize that You cause those times of joy to work for our good, including strengthening us and otherwise preparing us for everything, including those times of sorrow.  In Jesus name, we pray.  Amen.