30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 13 31-35 The lament of Jesus 07 God’s call is irrevocable
📖 Luke 13:31-35
07Nov19 - *God’s call is irrevocable* - _Luke 13:31-35_ - Bible reading: _Isaiah 2:1-3_
_Luke 13:34-35 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! (35) See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' "_
The Lord laments over Jerusalem. God had chosen His people, the Jews, to demonstrate His character and His ways in and through them. God was reconciling all the earth to Him and for all of creation to come back under His lordship, into His kingdom.
Repeatedly, the Lord revealed His plan and His call for His chosen people, the Jews. Yet, they heeded not His call for them and went on in their stubborn and sinful ways.
Paul and Barnabas, spoke to a Jewish audience in Antioch in Pisidia and gave them the understanding of Jesus and how through Him and by believing in Him, they could have eternal life. They finished the message with a strong appeal for a verdict to believe in Jesus. We find that the Jews walked out but it was the Gentiles, who showed much keenness to know more about Jesus. _Act 13:41-42 ‘BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.' " (42) So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath._
_Act 13:44-47 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. (45) But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul._ This has been the same story. The Jews have resisted and have been hindering others to turn to God. _(46) Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. (47) For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I HAVE SET YOU AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BE FOR SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.'_ Paul was revealing plainly, the purpose and the calling of God for His people, the Jews. They were to be a light to the Gentiles and that through them, salvation would come to all the earth.
_" Isaiah 42:6 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, Isaiah 49:6 Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' "_
This is the call of God for the Jews and God’s calling for them is irrevocable. _Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable._
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you participating in the call of God for your life, which is irrevocable?```