Moved to Tears
Today’s Verse:
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. ~Isaiah 38:5
Tears are God’s mechanism for clearing our eyes and the expression of hurt. There are a range of tears. There are tears of happiness and tears of sadness. There are tears from a moving performance, and there are tears from a tragic situation. The shedding of tears is an indication of our hearts and emotions being stirred. Our devotion this morning centers on the importance of tears in the Christian life.
We see the tears of supplication.
Hezekiah had just received the devastating news that he was going to die. He prayed a simple, but powerful prayer that God heard. God said, “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears.” Hezekiah was moved to tears that his life would end at age 39. His mind thought about things undone. His mind thought about people he loved. His praying was filled with sobbing and many tears that his life would be so short. Our most powerful praying occurs when we are broken in our hearts. It is easy for our praying to become like the Pharisees with formality and no heart. John Bunyan said “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” we are never more sincere in our praying than when there are genuine tears over the person we are praying for. Do you shed tears when you pray?
We see the tears of self reproach.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise,” Ps. 51:17. Ps. 51 is David’s prayer of confession. David was very broken and contrite that he had sinned so terribly. He sinned by having an affair with a married woman, he lied to numerous people to try to cover up his sin, he issued the orders that resulted in this man being killed on the front lines of battle, and he tried to numb his conscience for almost a year by acting as if nothing happened. When he realized how dirty and sinful he was, David shed a lot of tears before God. His repentant spirit and many tears brought him into fellowship and closeness with God once again. The humility that he had as a youth was again evident in his life. Never treat sin like a minor cut requiring a band aid. Always remember sin breaks the heart of God and that we must approach him with sorrowful remorse. Do you shed tears over your sins?
We see the tears of soulwinning.
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him,” Ps. 126:5-6. Our most effective soulwinning occurs when we sow the precious seed of God’s word with tears. Tears keep our hearts tender towards the plight of lost sinners. Paul said, “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears,” Acts 20:31. Those converts at Ephesus saw Paul weep many times for the souls of the lost and for them as believers. True compassion is when we are moved with tears that sinners need to be saved from the fires of hell. Do you shed tears over sinners who need to be saved?
We see the tears of separation.
“And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship,” Acts 20:37-38. In the Christian life, we will shed tears when there are sad goodbyes. The father of the prodigal son was moved to tears when his son left home. David shed tears for Jonathan and Saul when he heard they were killed on the battlefield. The believers at Joppa wept for the passing of Tabitha who had done many good works and alms deeds.
Without tears we would be containers of bottled up emotions. As God’s children, without tears we are ineffective in key areas of Christian service and faith. Don’t allow yourself to become hardened with dry tear ducts. Let the Lord touch you this morning so that you are moved with tears.
Have a tender-hearted God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Daniel 7-9