Grieving God

by David Gibson

How must God feel when He freely offers His great salvation, purchased at such dreadful cost, but the vast majority are not interested, too busy doing their own thing to care?

A Recurring Theme

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But My people did not listen to My voice . . .” (Psalms 81:10-12).

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’ But they said, 'We will not walk in it'" (Jeremiah 6:16).

“I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But You did not incline your ear or listen to Me” (Jeremiah 35:15).

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34).

“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).

So Very Sad!

How it breaks God’s great heart of love, knowing how wonderful a sinner’s life could be if only . . .

What a heavy responsibility it is to have free will! God gives us a choice. He urges us to do what is for our ultimate good and warns us what to expect if we refuse. Then He waits for our response. God has experienced sorrow upon sorrow from those who shun His offer. But oh, how He rejoices when a sinner comes home (Luke 15)!

Each of us has made Him sad. So now, let’s make Him glad!