Have You Been on the Road to Emmaus?

     Most of us have walked through perplexing times in our lives at one point or another.  We wonder what God is doing and often, why?  This was the mindset of two men who were  on their way to village called Emmaus some seven miles from Jerusalem.  They were distraught over the crucifixion of their Lord and did not yet know He had risen from the dead.  We can only imagine how they felt and what they said to one another.

     As they walked along, another man joined their company and began conversing with them.  They did not recognize that it was Jesus.  How easy it was for the Lord to lead them into discussing the events that took place in Jerusalem.  The men explained that two women had gone to the tomb but did not find the body of their Lord.  Two angels told them that He was alive so some of the disciples went to the tomb to see, and found no body.  At this point, Jesus began to explain to Cleopas and the other disciple what the Scriptures said concerning the Christ.  In Luke 24:27, the writer tells us:  "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. "  Then, when they all sat down to a meal together, Jesus broke bread, blessed it and gave it to them.  It was at that moment that they recognized the Lord had risen indeed.  Jesus then disappeared and both men exclaimed (in verse 32): "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?"  Another version of this verse said that Jesus opened their understanding of the Scriptures to them.

     After reading this passage (Luke 24:13-35), I thought how wonderful it is that the Lord opened their hearts and minds by interpreting to them all the Scriptures that pointed to His life, ministry, death and resurrection so that they could comprehend what God had done for them.  What's even better, however, is that we have the Holy Spirit as believers who can lead, teach and guide us into all truth just as Jesus did on the Road to Emmaus.  The key, though, is being in God's Word on a regular basis.  Notice that in the story I just related, Jesus did not disclose Himself to the men right away.  Instead, He took them through the Scripture so they could clearly see the plan of redemption from beginning to end.  

     Dear friends, the Lord gave us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, but He also gave us the Bible to show us the truth about who He is and who we are.  When we do not take the time to meditate on Scripture, we are starving ourselves spiritually.  Each day when I sit down to study God's Word, I pray that the Lord will open my understanding as He did for those men on the way to Emmaus.  Often we are slow to comprehend as these men were because it takes time to digest the Word.  This is one reason we are told to meditate on it day and night.  

     In addition, the process of praying over what we read in His Word is just as important.  We are, in essence, having a conversation with the Lord just as the men going to Emmaus were doing.  This is how we can come to comprehend the truths God wants us to see in His Word.

     Finally, and most importantly, we need to be in fellowship and sitting under the proclamation of God's Word each week.  If we really want to grow in our understanding and faith, it is imperative for us to fellowship with other believers as we hear the Bible expounded.  God provides a rich banquet each Lord's Day and invites us to come sup with Him.  My prayer for myself and for all of you reading this is that the Lord Jesus Christ would open our understanding of His Word that we may grow in His grace and knowledge for His glory!  Selah

     

So Tell Me Again Why You are Afraid?

     One of my favorite places to sit in the house is by my front window where I can watch the birds at my bird feeder.  We have "Woody" the red bellied woodpecker, a few blue jays, cardinals, black birds, and a cute little bird that tried to get in our window this morning.  He must have seen his reflection and kept coming back for another look.  Of course, we have our complement of squirrels who simply love the bird feeder as well.  I marvel at how beautiful the colors are on these creatures, and think about the Master Artist, our Lord, who created each one of them.  This reminded me of some verses I recently read in Matthew 10:26-31.

     In this section of Scripture, Jesus is encouraging His disciples and reminding them that they will face trials in this life.  They are not to fear though because God is with them.  There is nothing that man can do to snatch them from God's saving hand.  He said to them:  "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."  These are comforting words for all of us who follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  Isn't it good to know that God values us and knows us intimately?

     So often, we tremble in fear over speaking up and sharing our faith with others.  We worry we may say the wrong thing, be politically incorrect, or offend another person when we speak the truth as found in God's Word.  I am certain that is what the disciples contended with as they proclaimed the good news of salvation to their Jewish brethren.  Really, nothing has changed from that time to this, and the words of reassurance that Jesus shared with them are what we can count on as well.  God is sovereign over all the affairs of men, and He is the only One we need to fear (that is respect and be in awe of).  Man may reject what we say or in the extreme, do bodily harm to us, but God can send the soul to hell which is far worse.

     Instead of living in fear, Jesus told us to look at the sparrows.  While man values these birds at a low price, apart from God not one of these creatures falls to the ground.  Furthermore, the Lord knows the number of hairs we have on our head!  Now that is real involvement in our lives, and Jesus goes on to reassure the disciples (and us) that we are more valuable than many sparrows.  When we consider things from this perspective, we have nothing to fear for our Lord is with us.

     In my MacArthur Study Bible on these verses, it says:  "Jesus was teaching that God providentially controls the timing and circumstances of such insignificant events as the death of a sparrow.  Even the number of hairs on our heads is controlled by His sovereign will.  In other words, divine providence governs even the smallest details and even the most mundane matters."  This is why we do not need to live in fear of man or our circumstances.  God is able to care for His creation far better than we can.  Fear comes from the enemy of our souls.

     With the election coming up, many are in fear of the outcome.  What will happen in our nation?  Others have worries and care for their personal situations.  However, we must remember these words of comfort and truth which Jesus gave to us in His Word.  We are more valuable than a sparrow.  God knows what we need, and He is able to keep us until that time we go to be with Him.  He, alone, is sovereign over all the affairs of men and He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and for our world.  Therefore, rest in this today and repeat the Serenity Prayer when tempted to worry or fear:

    " God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

     Courage to change the things I can; and

     Wisdom to know the difference."

Selah!