Do You Weep?

Almost two weeks ago as I was weedeating a lawn (I work part-time as a landscaper), I was pondering the state of the Church in our day, and in that moment, I heard the Lord asked me this question, “Do you weep?” I knew when He said it that He was speaking to me in relation to the Church in our day, which I had previously been pondering on. So here is my question to you church: do you weep? 

I know many people may read this and think, “Why should I weep? Life is good, I have a good job, my family is in good health, I have a roof over my head and food on my table, etc.— why should I weep?” And my response to you is this: for those things, rejoice. Rejoice for all the Lord has done and be thankful for all the blessings He has bestowed on you. When I speak of weeping, I’m speaking of weeping over the spiritual state of our day. 

Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”—Matthew 5:3. Those who are poor in Spirit are those who see their spiritual poverty; thus, they lay aside self reliance and look to God to do what only He can do in and through His people. The very next verse Jesus said: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”—Matthew 5:4. When one sees the spiritual poverty in their own life and the lives of others it should bring us to tears. It should bring us to Godly sorrow which leads us to repentance. I’m not talking about emotionalism or working yourself into some kind of a frenzy. I’m talking about fellowshipping with the Lord’s heart for his Church and a lost people, and as a result, allowing Him to move your heart in such a way that you would began to weep and cry out for His namesake and for the world we live in.  

·      Do you weep that the name of your Savior is often no more than a curse word on the lips of those He died for? 

·      Do you weep that your spiritual life is often such that those around you don’t encounter Christ in you each time they hang around you? 

·      Do you weep for your lost son, daughter, brother, sister, mother or father? 

·      Do you weep for lost friends and neighbors? 

·      Do you weep for the lost man holding a sign on the corner, or the person sitting next to you on your bus ride? 

·      Do you weep for the people you saw in the grocery line, or the people sitting in cars around you in traffic? 

·      Do you weep for the co-worker who sits in the cubical across from you day after day? 

·      Do you weep? Do you allow yourself to be burdened with the burden of the Lord, or do you go on as though there is no reason to weep?  

The psalmist tells us in relation to the poor state of Israel (a type of the Church) as they are returning from Babylonian captivity after 70 years: “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.”—Psalms 126:5-6. A prayer that moves you to genuine brokenness and weeping birthed of the Spirit of God is a prayer that moves heaven.  As God responds to the cry of the hearts of His people in our day there will doubtless come great times of rejoicing. 

Let us learn to walk a line of rejoicing in faith for what God will do as well as rejoicing for all God has done, yet at the same time allowing our hearts to be moved and broken for all that don’t yet know our beautiful Savior and King! May we be moved to tears that our Savior would be truly exalted in our day! 

I pray that you began to fellowship with the Lord and allow yourself to feel His burden for our day. Let us sow in tears that we may reap in joy!

~Timothy Glasgo