Weekday Devotionals

Devotional by Pastor Aaron Green

"And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." -Luke 19:41-42

This Sunday kicked off Holy Week with Palm Sunday. Holy week brings about a range of emotions just as it did that very first week. There was excitement in the people. They were celebrating what they thought was 'another Exodus'. They had thought that they were laying down palm branches of victory for a triumphal king who was going to take his rightful throne in Jerusalem just as their ancestor David had done. However, this coming king viewed their glee through tears. He peered through their smiling faces to their heart that was hoping and pleading this king would cut down their enemies, shed the blood of the Romans, and make their city the city on a hill it once was... however... this king... this King of Kings... was after the throne of their hearts. He wept because they had misunderstood what He was after. They had misunderstood what exactly He had come to conquer. If this king and Messiah is on the throne of our hearts then it means love for our enemies. It means a pursuit of peace instead of bloodshed. It means giving up our earthly kingdoms for the pursuit of a Heavenly one. This is not the Messiah they wanted. It begs the question... is it the Messiah we want? Are we laying down the palm branches of victory, or surrender? Are we hoping this Messiah will cut down our enemies? Are we hoping this king establishes our kingdom? Have we misunderstood this Messiah & king? As Pastor Eric said this past Sunday, we may full an entire nation, but we aren't fooling God. Holy week reminds us that this King is after conquering the throne of our heart- not our empires. Ironically, the empires change when the hearts of the people change first. Happy Holy Week. Go with THE KING in your heart.

- Pastor Aaron