The Divine Tag-a-Long Changed Their Lives

As I was walking yesterday, basking in the freshness of the early morning, I said, “Open my eyes to see you, Lord.” I knew I was already seeing Him in the beauty of His creation, but I sensed a true desire to open my eyes to His presence – right now!

After I posted my blog that described my 6:15 am early morning walk on Friday, a friend cautioned me about walking alone in the darkness and recommended I get a stun gun or another protective device. I appreciated his concern and told him I live in a safe 55+ community. I asked if he knew the old hymn “In the Garden” that went like this: "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the voice I hear falling on my ears, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there -- none other has ever known!" Oh, the sweet early morning encounters! I am so not alone.

That “open my eyes to His presence” made me recall the huge statute at Emmaus Church in Austin and the story of the two disciples journeying home to Emmaus after the death of Jesus. (Luke 24:13-35) They didn't believe the rumor that Jesus was alive and were in doubt and despair. Then, out of nowhere, the Divine Tag-a-Long, the Risen Jesus, began to walk with them. They didn’t recognize Him even when He shared many Old Testament stories. When it came time for dinner, they invited the stranger to join them. Jesus accepted and when He blessed and broke the bread, their eyes were opened and they saw that their guest was Jesus.

Suddenly those two disciples went from doubt and despair to faith in the Risen Lord. And, I think Jesus was walking with me yesterday, specifically to open my eyes to the truth of the matter. He is ALWAYS walking with me – with us. Especially when we are in doubt and despair and concern – right here, right now in the middle of these COVID-19 times to acknowledge we're not alone and to stand strong in faith in OUR Risen Savior. Yes, it feels like we’re walking through a strange land and are traveling down a road of wondering why this is happening – why so many people have died or are suffering from the pain of loss of a loved one or the loss of a job or the loss of a dream. "Why is God permitting things like this to happen?"

Just like the two disciples, we are sometimes caught up in our doubt and despair and we can't see Jesus as He travels with us. They couldn't see the Divine Tag-a-Long Who made their hearts burn as He shared scriptures with them. But, right in the very moments of their doubt and despair, Jesus was working on their hearts. He had a plan all along to reveal Himself to them. They would be two of the first disciples that He would prove He was alive and well. And so it is in our lives. God is at work in the details of our lives. He chooses our everyday doubts and despair to open our eyes to Jesus Who is with us.

The Risen Jesus wants to be invited to walk alongside us in every facet of our lives -- in the craziness of our kids running rampant, in the painful times of a loved one's passing or unable to be with our loved ones. He walks beside the frontliners. God is a good, good Father and any good that is happening during these times -- is from God HImself. He is walking with us and talking with us and telling us we are His own -- and He would never leave us or forsake us. May we allow Him to remind us that wherever we are and whatever we're going through, He is with us. Remember, just as His disciples recognized Him in the simple breaking of bread, His Holy Presence is with us in the simplicity of our every day lives. Lord, please open our eyes to You, today! You are here with us right here, right now!

How About a Life-Changing Walk With Jesus?

I saw bunnies still scampering about yesterday, but these ones weren't leaving Easter eggs. The Easter baskets have been put back into storage until next year, but the crux of the whole matter of Easter celebrations is still burning in our hearts. We are still in awe of this most essential, absolute reason for our faith. Our Lord LIVES!

Remember the disciples who were returning home to Emmaus from Jerusalem after the crucifixion and the "supposed" resurrection of the Lord (Luke 24:13-35)? The women reported that angels at the empty tomb told them He was alive. But they thought those women were "seeing things". The reports of the empty tomb confused them, but that Easter Sunday afternoon, Jesus met up with them. He encouraged them and explained to them the message of the resurrection, and reminded them of His promises to them, but they didn't recognize Him until He went home with them and broke bread, blessed it and gave it to them. They had seen Jesus do this when he fed the five thousand and the four thousand and in the Upper Room. Their eyes opened and they recognized Him. Then He disappeared.

It was then that they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”

Their hearts burned within them when He shared scriptures with them. And that is my prayer, too. That my heart would burn within me at the reality of His unfailing Word and that I would be stirred by His presence in my life daily. Don't you love it when you've read or heard a scripture many times, but then all of a sudden we read it or hear it explained again, but this time it's like a light comes on and we finally "get it" -- just like those disciples realized it was Jesus in their midst. Suddenly God is revealing that scripture to us in a new way and it's His perfect timing for "His Word to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our pathway."

Perhaps, if we continue in this magnificent truth of our Risen Lord on a daily basis, our hearts will continue to burn with faith, His love will flow from us to others who need an encounter with Him, and we just may be His hands extended to them. We are those disciples on the road to Emmaus, living our lives in the real world, walking along with Jesus who is always there accompanying us on the road, whether we recognize Him or not. He listens to us, and understands us, because He became like us. He gets us. Are you confused, hurting, perplexed or need advice and wise counsel today? Maybe it's time to go for a life-changing "Walk With Jesus" today.