May 12, 2023 – Friday
Matthew 23:37 NASB
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NASB
7 But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children, 8 in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
Comments
Two different verses to finish out this week suggested by a reader in response to Monday’s Verse of the Day. In the first Jesus had just stated numerous woes to the scribes and Pharisees and then began His conclusion with our first verse of the day. After rebuking the scribes and the Pharisees, He concludes with 37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. 38 Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! 39 For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
What incredible tenderness He expresses when He says How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks, just as a mother might tenderly say. Both mothers and fathers are protective, and both are tender, but we know in general fathers are the front line for protection and mothers are the front line for tenderness. We see both in Jesus in this chapter after He first goes after the scribes and Pharisees and then speaks of His desire to protect like a mother hen protects her chicks.
Then Paul in our second set of verses shows a very similar tenderness when He writes, 7 But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children, 8 in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. Paul who would stand up for the Gospel to anyone of any station, lets us know he and those with him were gentle among you. And further, As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children where incredible love is usually shown by the mother.
All of this, in my mind, relates back to Genesis 1:27, 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. In doing so, He showed us it was necessary to have both male and female to understand Him.
Bottom Line: I look forward to this weekend and celebrating Mother’s Day, to honor Mothers, Aunts, Daughters, and Sisters, who were made in the image of God just as Fathers, Uncles, Sons, and Brothers were.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Once again thank You for creating us, male and female as one alone cannot fully make up the image of who You are. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek