Are you familiar with the Bible’s account
of two of Jesus’ disciples walking along the road to Emmaus?
I looked up the Hebrew meaning of this word and found it
to be rather involved. Summarized it means
“hot springs” but a deeper dive into some of its root
components reveals that it’s sometimes used to describe
severe mental “burning” or agitation.
Following that last week of events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion,
the disciples’ decided to leave where they’d been staying
in Jerusalem. In their disillusionment, confusion and grief
perhaps they just wanted to get away from the scene.
They weren’t aware that they were heading down the wrong road
when what they really needed to do was remain with the other
disciples. Jesus had instructed that they were to wait right where they were
until they’d received power from on high; Holy Spirit.
Jesus saw where they were and what they were doing.
He came along beside them and began discussing the disturbing events
in light of what the prophets had written about Him, according to
GOD’s plan.
At first, the disciples aren’t able to recognize Christ for Who He is.
Understanding only came after they asked Him to linger with them.
As they sat down together to eat, Jesus blessed the bread,
broke it, and gave a portion to each.
Suddenly, their eyes are opened! Simultaneously
Jesus vanishes the instant the two men recognize Him!
The Revelation of the Word shared with them works to
change their current course and direction!
The two men make an immediate U-turn to head
straight back to Jerusalem!
“They said to each other,
“Didn’t our hearts burn within us
as He talked with us on the road
and explained the Scriptures to us?””
Luke 24:32 NLT
Thank You, LORD, for coming to walk beside me,
for Your willingness to allow such Sweet Communion.
I’m so grateful for highlighted Scriptures and for You
continually coaching and growing me, and providing Illumination.
I do so cherish the words of Your Heart,
even when they’re quite challenging for me to hear.
Thank You, Father God, for so loving me first,
even while and as I’m still figuring out what that means.
What would have become of my soul
had You not faced and done the really tough stuff?!
Thank You for showing up in this place where I live!
Thank You for boldly speaking Truth with such Love!
I’ve come to realize here recently just how unloving
being “ambiguous” can be when You, Yourself, have been
nothing but up front and honest with me!
Another “find” on my daily walk!
A brightly colored ping pong ball…
light as air…and green!
No, Sir, Your yoke’s not too heavy!
I bend down to pick it up,
with lightness of step I carry it home.
How blessed to be invited to partner
with You in Your work!
Infinite, these Visions of Healing
Flowing out from the advent of Your
death and Resurrection!
How lovely The Green of Your Signature!
Renewal! Hope! Revival! New growth!
LORD, lead each of us into a deeper understanding
of Your Point of View and Your Value and Worth!
“Jesus ministered from village to village,
making His way to Jerusalem
and teaching the people as He went.
Jerusalem defined: ”They will see ‘The Wholeness’
or ‘they will feel the Awe of the Completeness’.
(Copied from the Hebrew Word
of the Day: jerusalemprayerteam.org)
A bystander asked Him,
“Lord, will only a few have eternal life?”
Jesus said to the crowd:
“There is a great cost for anyone to enter through
the narrow doorway into God’s kingdom.
I tell you, many will want to enter but won’t be able to.
Once the Head of the House has shut and locked the door,
it will be too late. Even if you stand outside knocking,
begging to enter, and saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
He will say to you, ‘I don’t know who you are.
You are not a part of My family.’
Luke 13: 22-25 TPT
A caveat here…
Jesus clarifies exactly who His family is
in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, verses 33-35.
“…Then looking in the eyes of those who were sitting
in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are my true
family members. For whoever does the will of God
is My brother, My sister, and My mother!””
Selah. (Pause and think deeply about that.)
Now back to what Jesus is saying in Luke:
“Then you will reply, ‘But Lord, we dined with You,
and walked with You as You taught in our streets.’
And He will reply, ‘Don’t you understand?
I don’t know you or where you come from.
Get away from Me, all you who are disloyal to Me
and do evil.’
Luke 13: 27 TPT/NLT
Philippians 2:12 admonishes me to work out my
Salvation with fear and trembling. Where do I fall on
this spectrum? James writes “even the demons know
there’s One True God and tremble with fear before Him.”
A statement followed by some really sobering words,
“…yet they’re unchanged— they remain demons.”
(James 2:19 TPT)
All my excuses evaporate into thin air!
They turn tail and flee to a far away place!
“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,
for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God,
while you yourselves are be barred from entering.
And people will come from all over the world
—from east and west, north and south—
to take their places in the Kingdom of God.
And note this: Some who seem least important now
will be the greatest then, and some who are
the greatest now will be least important then.”
Luke 13:28-30 TPT/NLT
There’s a Stirring experienced thru Jesus’ teachings:
the eye of the needle, a narrow gate, a wide gate,
a steep, rugged path and one paved with ease.
Which is the way of my own personal choices
…and most important of all…is Jesus pleased?
LORD, help me to walk according to Your Spirit
and not according to my flesh!
“We are destroying sophisticated arguments
and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up
against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking
every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ…”
2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP
I need Your help, LORD; I don’t want to kid myself!
We’re not talking about a fire insurance policy but a way of
living that impacts here and stretches into Eternity! Help me
to prioritize Your Worth in every single area of my life!
In the face of conflict and anxiety, please grant me peace,
patience and strength. In suffering, may I suffer well.
And in every cultivated interest, opinion and attitude may the
Light of Your Truth and Life be reflected, and reflected well!
You do, indeed, lead me along paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake!
I’m eternally grateful that You get me, yes…and I trust You are also
working out in me a far greater plan. As my High Priest You supply
everything I need as I accept Your all-inclusive invitation to
Come…and to walk out together with You, needful change
in my course and direction in the most intimate and exclusive
of terms!
Then Jesus said to His disciples:
“If you truly want to follow Me you should at once completely reject and disown your own life.
And you must be willing to share My cross and experience it as your own, as you continually
surrender to My ways. For if you choose self-sacrifice and lose your lives for My glory,
you will continually discover true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves,
you will forfeit what you try to keep. For even if you were to gain all the wealth and power
of this world—at the cost of your own life—what good would that be? And what could be more
valuable to you than your own soul? I, the Son of Man, will one day return with My messengers
and in the splendor and majesty of My Father. And then I will reward each person according to what
they have done. But I promise you, there are some standing here now who won’t experience death
until they have witnessed the coming of the Son of Man in the presence and the power
of the kingdom realm of God!””
Matthew 16:24-28 TPT
I want to be found ready and waiting!
Amen.
❤️