Two people can look at the same thing, at the same time, and see things differently. An old table in a dumpster looks like trash to one, a treasure to another. One set of fans at a championship game will see triumph, the others tragedy.

On the Mount of Olives, just before Christ’s “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem, two saw the same scene differently. The disciples saw the triumph of the moment, while Jesus saw the tragedy. “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it” (Luke 19:41). Jesus saw tragedy that day, not triumph.

The tragedy had three parts.

First, the people wanted peace but did not know what would bring peace to them. True peace is found only in Jesus.

Second, they did not realize the destruction they faced. A few years later Rome captured Jerusalem, killing more than 600,000 people and destroying the temple. Jesus also knew that all face judgment unless they receive the forgiveness He can give.

Third, He wept because they did not "recognize the time of God's coming." God became a man and lived among us – Immanuel! Yet many did not recognize that and instead rejected Him. In fact, on a few days after the cries of "Hosanna!" the very same people called out "Crucify him!"

Jesus wept because the people did not know peace, realize they faced destruction or recognize that He was God.

Do you have peace? It is found in Jesus. He saves us from sin's power and penalty. Recognize who Jesus is and receive Him as your Savior today.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 9.40. Live for God, on purpose, serving Him wholeheartedly every day.

When Jesus Cries

I have spent the last ten days of September in the beautiful state of Colorado. For the first five days, I taught at the Church Multiplication Network’s Church Planting/Church Health Boot Camp for the Rocky Mountain District. For the last five days, I visited my friends Jim and Linda Eiler in Salida, Colorado, and Jeff and Cheryl McElhattan in Summit County, Colorado. On multiple occasions, I was seemingly atop the world, as I gazed down from some of the highest vantage points in America.

The views of God’s creation I observed while ascending the many mountains is nothing short of breathtaking. You can check out many of the photos on my Facebook page. (www.facebook.com/tsatryan)

But, what impacted me the most was our ride along Skyline Drive.

The entrance to Skyline Drive is just a few miles west of Cañon City, Colorado, off Highway 50. It is a one-way, paved road that runs about 3 miles along an extremely narrow 800 foot high ridge and winds along following the crest of the Dakota hogback. In many locations the ridge is only as wide as the road, with sheer drops on both sides. The road is only wide enough for one vehicle, and while driving, you can look down both sides of the mountain. To the west, you see Highway 50. To the east, you can see all of Cañon City lying before you.

As I looked down at Cañon City, all I could think of was Luke 19:41, where Jesus looked down on Jerusalem and wept. You see, for the entire previous week, I had been working with a great team of leaders and pastors from the Assembly of God church in Cañon City, and knew their heart to reach out to all those people that I was now gazing at from above. As I stood there, looking at their city, I prayed for them. And, I began to likewise pray for my city of Wilmington, and the state of Delaware.

Jesus cried as He looked down upon his city. I believe He weeps today as he looks down upon this world, desiring so deeply that its inhabitants would receive His gift of freedom and eternal life. And, I pray that each of us weep as we consider the world around us.

This Sunday here at WFA, we will be looking at Luke 19:41-44 and John 11:33-35, and find what makes Jesus cry – and why we, too, should cry – and, cry out to God – for the people of our land.

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Godly Compassion

As we open our hearts to minister to those around us, we soon discover we live in an imperfect world full of sickness, heartache, and frustrations. Many of us (many more than we realize) are facing trials which are sometimes quite severe. When we are finally invited into someone's private world and allowed to hear of their pain, it can be difficult to know what to do or say.

As we grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus, we learn of His truths: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We understand and usually have some actual experience with God's loving plan and purpose; "in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28). But there are times when this type of advice – even this type of truth – can be a little cold and fail to comfort or draw someone closer to God.

While it's absolutely true that God will use our pain and suffering for His glory, it may not be the first response someone needs to hear when they enter a difficult trial; "There is a time for everything...a time to be silent and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:1,7). We must learn to be sensitive to the more immediate need.

When Lazarus became very sick, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus but He did not come until after Lazarus died. Mary fell at Jesus‘ feet and cried: "Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:32). At that moment, Jesus did NOT begin preaching "Rejoice in the Lord always!" (Philippians 4:4). There would be other opportunities for sermons, other opportunities to speak about faith and trust, but in this moment the need simply required compassion.

John 11:33,35

"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled...Jesus wept."

The Creator of the Universe wept! From the beginning of time, Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead; He knew many lives would soon be changed through this miracle. But "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus" (John 11:5). Though this pain and sorrow was necessary in the context of God's sovereign plan, these were real people who were grieving and Jesus took time to show He truly cared and understood their pain.

The world is in great need of the healing power of Jesus Christ. Sin has caused separation from God and left many lives in a mess. As we minister through encouragement and the truth of God's Word, we are called to do so while "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). But love does not exist outside of a relationship. And in a loving relationship we will often best demonstrate God's truth by listening and comforting with a Godly compassion.

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A Man of Sorrows

Someone once said, "You may soon forget those with whom you have laughed, but you will never forget those with whom you have wept."

When we are experiencing sorrow, one of the greatest comforts is knowing that someone else has gone through a similar trial and has literally felt the sadness we feel. In such dark times of life, we tend to cling to those friends who have been where we are. Jesus is one such friend. John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.” He experienced the death of a very close friend, watched as some of His disciples openly betrayed Him, and kept silent as He was unjustly beaten and hung on a cross. Needless to say, He was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," and can therefore relate to us on a very personal level when we are dealing with pain and grief (Isaiah 53:3).

If you are in a time of sadness and sorrow and feel that no one understands you, remember that Jesus understands because He has experienced pain too. You can trust that He has been wherever you are and will walk with you through your darkest hour.

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Why the Tree is Full of Berries

James Bryan Smith, in “The Good and Beautiful God,” describes sitting in an Adirondack chair in his backyard one unseasonably warm day in February. He writes of the lesson he learned that day:

“The leaves had long ago fallen, but one busy tree really stood out. Normally, I would never have paid much attention to this tree, and given the time of year I would not have spent more than a few minutes in the backyard. But there it was, and it had my full attention.

“After a few minutes I noticed something strange about this tree in addition to its leaves: it had lots of tiny grape-like berries. I began to wonder why it was full of berries at this time of year. Because I had been in and out of prayer that afternoon, I turned my attention to God and asked, ‘God, why is this tree full of berries?‘ Right on cue a little bird, the size of a finch, flew to the tree, skewered a berry and flew to a nearby bush where it dined. The Spirit whispered, ‘That is why the tree is full of berries.’

“It was as if the Sermon on the Mount was being preached in my backyard. “Look at the birds of the air and how they neither sow nor reap but are fed by their Father in the heavens” (see Matthew 6:26). But the sermon was not over. The Spirit then led me to consider just how many berries were on that tree. There were thousands. And then I was led to consider how small those little birds are, so small they could fit in the palm of my hand. The point: God has provided more for them than they will ever need. The application: when we live with the good and beautiful God, we have access to more than we will ever need.

“It was a powerful sermon that I would have missed had I not been ‘foolish‘ enough to step off the achievement treadmill and plant myself in the middle of my backyard for an hour. Have you ever had an experience like the berry-filled tree, where you stopped and paid attention to your surroundings and discovered something wonderful?

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Visible Faith

There is truth in Scripture that we know and have heard many times, yet at a particular time in our reading it or our hearing it again its impact upon us almost knocks us over. Such was the case with a familiar passage recently. The passage is loaded with great truth and personal application with regard to compassion, persistence, corporate faith and the revelation of Jesus authority and power, just to name a few things. But on this day as the pastor read the text the words that pushed me back in my seat were, "When Jesus saw their faith..." (Luke 5:20)

You know the story. Jesus was in someone's house teaching when some men brought their paralytic friend to Jesus carrying him on a mat. When they arrived at the house where Jesus was teaching they could not get anywhere close, so with undaunted diligence they made their way to the roof of the house. They proceeded to rip a hole in the roof large enough to lower their friend down so he lay at Jesus‘ feet. It is then Luke notes, "when Jesus saw their faith, he said..." Jesus "saw" their faith! Their faith was so visibly demonstrated that there was no need of inquiry or verbalization.

There are times where the record indicates Jesus‘ confronting a person's faith by asking if they believe or their faith is addressed in some verbal form. Yet, it can be safe to say, there are as many recorded incidents where Jesus responds to someone's visible faith alone, or He makes note of the individual's faith after the fact. However the power of these words for us lies in their implicit question, "is our faith visible?" Do our actions, our daily lives, so demonstrate our faith that people see it? That Jesus sees it?

James confronts us with this very issue stating, "But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.‘ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe there is a God. Good! Even demons believe that and shudder." (James 2:18-19)

Unfortunately for many there is a great disconnect between what they say they believe and the way they live. This reality should drive us into self-examination, or even better, a submission to a Spirit-examination for a faith that is not visible, a faith that is not being demonstrated by our every day actions, is no faith at all! And it is abundantly clear in Scripture and history, that God works to accomplish His purposes through the faith of His people.

"When Jesus saw their faith, He ..."

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I Am!

by Marji "Mike" Kruger

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’” – Exodus 3:14

As I re-read the Exodus story I was more in awe as I saw...
God's kindness in giving the obedient midwives families of their own (1:20)
God's sovereignty in the preservation of the Jews and in the preservation of Moses‘ life (2:6)
God's patience as He molded Moses for 40 years in the desert
God's faithfulness to His purposes in remembering His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob (2:24-25)
God's listening ear that hears His people's cries and is concerned about them (2:24-25)
God's power over nature with the burning bush (3:2-8)
God's holiness symbolized in the fire (3:2-8)
God's presence turning an ordinary place into "holy ground" (2:5)
God's personal touch as He communicated with Moses (2:6)
God's redemption as He brings the people out of Egypt
God's purposes and plans which prevail

My faith is increased when I remember that God has not changed! He is still kind and patient and personal with me. He is still sovereign and powerful with plans that prevail in my life. He is still holy and hates sin and yet, redeemed me. He is still faithful to His promises for me. He is still present and listening and active in my life and my world. How about you? When you take the time to reflect upon God, what do you see? And how is He increasing your faith today?

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The Last Impression

Morris had been playing golf for years and he had the finest golfing equipment, but his technique never improved a bit.

As his friend watched, he teed up at the first hole and promptly drove a brand-new ball into the woods. On the second hole, he drove another new ball into a lake. On the third, he lost a new ball in another part of the woods.

"Why don't you use an old ball?" his friend Sam asked.

"I've never had an old ball," Morris said.

I loved my time in Colorado, and it is a truly beautiful state. But, I am very glad to be back home in the First State! And, I am eagerly looking forward to worshipping together with everyone at WFA this Sunday! If you are in the north Delaware area, be sure to join us as we worship Him in spirit and in truth, and as the Word of God is boldly proclaimed!