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     As he [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19:41-42 (NIV)

Lord Jesus, long before the Day you’ll wipe away our tears, you wept many of your own—so great was your heartache and passion. The tears you shed coming into an unbelieving and rebellious Jerusalem, underscore the mercy and magnificence of these words from the Apostle Paul:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6-8).

Jesus, we humbly acknowledge Paul was writing about us, in this passage of Scripture. We count ourselves among the powerless, self-seeking sinners for whom you gave your life. We weren’t impassioned seekers or misguided “good” people; we were self-centered rebels and indifferent malcontents, when we received the free gift of eternal life (Rom. 5:10).

The only reason we have peace with God is because God made peace with us through you. We didn’t need to turn over a new leaf; we needed to become a whole new tree. We didn’t need a new start; we needed a new heart.

We would still be looking for peace elsewhere, if you hadn’t opened our eyes to see our need, and your grace. We have no claim to salvation—no boast or hope, no assurance of sins forgiven or of righteousness received, apart from God’s great kindness and sovereign grace.

We long for the Day when we won’t even be tempted to look for peace, life, and joy anywhere else but in you, Jesus. Until that Day, we trust you to be our contentment and satisfaction, our portion and our inheritance. So very Amen we pray with gratitude and adoration, in your wonderful and merciful name.

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