country roads

Changed Destinations

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So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. Luke 24:28-29 ESV

It is interesting that these two disciples had walked all day with Jesus. They had listened to all He had to say. They had talked with Him and told Him all their problems. But all down that long hot and dusty road, they never realized who they were spending their day with.

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All down the path they had walked focused on their hopelessness, confusion and fear. At any moment Jesus could have stopped them in their tracks shouting, “Hey guys, it’s me! I came back from the dead! Everything is going to be great!” but He didn’t. Instead Jesus first asked them about their problems then patiently explained and then he fell silent. He acted as if He would just go on without them. Then they made a choice that changed their destination from a village to a vision. They found one small kindness they could offer to a stranger who had shared His day with them. Jesus accepted their invitation and when they sat down together to eat He blessed the bread; showed them who He was. Will we invite some of the least likely strangers to sit with us tonight? When we make room for Him at our table He will still break the bread and give us a glimpse of His face as He has been doing for 2000 years!

The Road Ahead

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And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. Luke 24:15 KJV

Sometimes we look at Easter as a single defining event of our faith. But the Good News of Easter morning is that, as we walk (or run in Peter’s case) from the tomb, Jesus comes and walks along at our side.  If we believe that living for Jesus means we having to do everything just right, then we will often feel like giving up.  I am so encouraged to know that on the first Easter, Jesus decided to walk with disciples who were far from perfect. Let’s listen in on their conversation a bit:

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel…. Luke 24:21 ESV

In other words; they had given up hope. They just didn’t get it. Why had Jesus died? On those kinds of days Jesus draws near and asks:

Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? Luke 24:26 ESV

Just like a doctor treating a wound Jesus pokes and prods with questions that can make us feel uncomfortable. But His examination is for the purpose of healing and focusing our thinking on His cross, His forgiveness and eternal life.

Prayer: Father my hope this morning is no longer that I have everything right, but that You will come along side today. Come Lord and walk with me and lead me to the cross that meant death for You and eternal life for me.

Simplicity

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For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV

Last summer we were blessed by some friends with the invitation to stay for free at their cottage which they call Simplicity. We spent three glorious days there watching eagles fish in the lake and enjoying quiet days walking or reading as there was no TV, internet or cell phone access. It was a refreshing time of refocusing our hearts and relearning how to truly decompress from the craziness of 21st century life.  P1040658

Focus is what the Apostle Paul meant when he said they lived with simplicity. He did not allow anything to the obscure the simplicity of His Christian life. When we get mixed up with unnecessary entanglements of our time, thoughts or relationships we lose focus. Time alone on a week-end retreat may help for a while but Paul tells us that God’s solution is for us to have a life lived in complete reliance on grace. When things start to blur the focus of our soul; we need to stop and ask God to clear our minds of clutter so we can once again live simply by the grace of Jesus Christ.

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