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Christmas Tears
“sow in tears” and “reap in joy”
by
Ben Cerullo
“Those who sow in
tears shall reap in joy.
“He who continually
goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).
Throughout His life, Jesus was moved with
compassion for those in need. His miracles — and everything else He said and
did — were expressions of His broken heart for lost humanity.
Jesus sought to impart this same heart of
compassion to His disciples.
One day, as He was
teaching, preaching, and healing the sick, “He was moved with compassion for
[the multitudes], because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no
shepherd.”
Saddened by the
tremendous needs He saw, He told His disciples, “The harvest truly is
plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:35-38).
As we celebrate Jesus’ birth this year, I
pray He will give us this same heart for the lost and needy people around us.
He changed the world not only through His
wisdom and moral teachings, but also by His stunning example — offering hope to
the hopeless and stooping down to put shattered lives back together.
Jesus cared enough for fallen humanity that
He left the glories of Heaven to enter this sin-sick world and die on a Cross
for us.
While demonstrating complete authority over
sin, sickness, storms, poverty, and death, He also wept over people’s needs.
When Jesus was about to raise his friend
Lazarus from the dead, He was moved by the deep sorrow of the sisters, Martha
and Mary.
We read that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
Although this is the shortest verse in the
Bible, it’s also one of the most profound. God weeps with us!
We also see Jesus’ tears during His triumphal
entry into Jerusalem (Luke
19:28-42).
The multitudes were
eagerly praising Him with waving palm branches and loud hosannas (verses 37-38), but “as He drew
near, He saw the city and wept over it” (verse 41).
The Greek word implies loud sobbing and
anguish, not just ordinary tears.
Jesus’ heart was torn
that, despite Jerusalem’s beauty and rich history, its people did not know “the
things that make for peace” (verse 42).
Stories like this should grip our hearts as
well.
Like the people of ancient Jerusalem, our
world is filled with people who don’t know the joy and peace that come from a
personal relationship with Christ.
Some have never heard the Gospel message.
Others have rejected it so far.
Jesus’ mission was “to
seek and to save that which was lost” (verse 10), and He still weeps for those who are
perishing.
This same compassion was a secret of the
early Church (Acts
20:31, Philippians 3:18)
and of dedicated believers throughout the centuries.
General William Booth, founder of the
Salvation Army in the 1800s, once received a desperate telegram from
missionaries who were confronting total indifference from the people they were
trying to reach with the Gospel.
The telegram read: “We’ve
tried everything. What should we do now?”
Booth sent back a
telegram containing just two words: “Try tears.”
When all else fails, try tears.
Allow God to break your heart that anyone
would live or die without Christ.
With tears and a broken heart, win souls by
sowing seeds of love this Christmas season:
“Those who sow in
tears shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).
Christmas is a
wonderful time to “sow in tears” and “reap in joy.”
God promises you a great harvest when you do.
Jesus calls us to take His Gospel of love to
people of every nation.
As part of your gift-giving this Christmas,
you can sow seeds of love for souls through Inspiration Ministries.
Click this button to shine the light to those
lost in darkness during this holiday season.
Give the Gift of Love
Ben
Cerullo
has been named by Charisma Magazine as one of the “30 Emerging Voices” who will
lead the church in the next decade. His ministry carries a powerful anointing
and prophetic message. Traveling extensively, both domestically and
internationally, he has spoken in more than 27 nations. God continues to use
him to reach people with the Gospel, confirming His Word with signs following.
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