Day #40
Larry Trotter
Words of Love
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:30-32 NIV
Overcoming the Barrier
Previously, I referred to taking the Disciple Bible Study in 1989 as the catalyst for my spiritual reawakening. I would like to wrap up this Lenten devotional series by zooming in on the night it all clicked. Our study group spent the fall and early winter working through the Old Testament reading the exciting narratives about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the dramatic story of the Exodus, the, let’s face it, tedious minutia of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, and the political intrigue surrounding the prophets, and the ultimate fall of Israel and Judah. The New Testament was as welcomed as the early spring weather that accompanied it. I loved reading the first three gospels and making connections with the Old Testament stories and prophecies that had always pointed to Jesus but needed context to connect the dots. Then, one night while I was alone in the house, I was sitting on the couch reading the resurrection account from John’s gospel. Mary Magdalene was standing outside the empty tomb, crying and confused, wondering what had happened to Jesus. Suddenly, a man she thought was the gardener but was actually the resurrected Christ said to her, “Mary.” She turned and cried out, “Rabboni,” or teacher. As I read that exchange between Mary and Jesus I began to cry. It seemed to come from out of nowhere. As soon as Jesus called her name, it was as if he called my name, as if he knew that I had been looking for him, too. It was one of the most profound experiences of my life. Without question Jesus had been revealing himself to me for months as I explored his Word. It was at that particular moment that all the study made its way from my head to my heart. I have never been the same.
The setup for today’s passage is that those two disciples were going home after the crucifixion and resurrection. Along the way, Jesus joined them on the journey and began to explain all that had happened. Then, after asking him to stay for dinner, he broke the bread, connecting everything with the Passover meal they had eaten with him, and they suddenly realized it was Jesus. As they reflected on their journey they remembered how their hearts burned as he opened the Scriptures to them. For Methodists this can’t help but stir thoughts of John Wesley’s experience at a Bible study when his heart was strangely warmed and he, too, received a vision of Jesus, visceral if not visual. This leads me to let you in on the two goals I have for these devotions. The first is to be an encouragement. It’s easy to find our lives roiling with conflict. Work, retirement, family, finances, and relationships are enough to keep us on our knees. Then, you add the social and political conflict in our country that seems to be boiling over and uncertainty grows. Finally, global concerns such as hunger, political oppression, and the growing threat of terrorism are constantly at the top of our headlines page. I wanted to offer a perspective that underscores the timeless, non-negotiable love of God that is a constant against the constantly changing tides of local, national, and world affairs. The other goal is to encourage you to study God’s Word. If you are a Jesus-follower and in a church but are not in a regular class where you can explore God’s Truth, I am asking you to get involved in one. If you are a Jesus-follower but not in a church, please, find one. Yes, you can be a Christian without going to church, but it’s like joining a health club and never walking or swimming or lifting weights. There will be no transformation. Finally, if you have never given your life to Jesus, now is the time. There are lots of really good people, some of whom even go to church, that have never established that rock-solid relationship with Jesus. Today would be a good day to be the first day of the rest of your life with Christ. Just do this: simply pray and confess your sins, shortcomings, and insecurities to our God whose specialty is forgiving. (Believe me, I know. I have asked for and received a lot of forgiveness.) Then, ask Jesus to become the center of your life. Put another way, get out of the driver’s seat, toss Jesus the keys, and call “shotgun.” You will embark on a journey that will take you over amazing terrain, will sometimes be bumpy, but will most certainly be unforgettable. If it would be helpful, just reply to this email (larry@concordumc.com for those reading the blog) and let’s talk. Remember, there is no barrier that the love of God in Christ Jesus cannot overcome. And, whoever you are, thank you for reading, and please know this; I love you.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, make my life all about you. From this point on, I am yours, and you are mine. In your name, amen.
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