5/9/10 God Longs for Us as a Mother Longs for Her children

37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' (Mt. 23:37-39)

We humans are like chicks running away from her mother when there is an enemy in the henhouse.  This mini-parable or word picture is a powerful way to show God is calling us to Himself and we are running in the opposite direction.  The other day I was in Walmart and a mother of three was calling to her kids.  Two of them came back to her shopping cart, but one boy (about three) stopped when she called, looked at her, then laughed and ran down a different aisle of the store.  She tried to run after him, but with two kids in tow could not catch up (fortunately an employee- and not someone who would harm the child, scooped the child up for her).   God calls us today to worship Him.  He longs to gather us under his wings- to nurture, protect, provide for us. 

Prayer: Lord, help me not only to hear your call, but to turn and respond.