Luke 24:13-35 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 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?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Ready for church? Too often we are in a rush to get to church in the morning. We get up, do the things we need to do to get ready to go and then rush off. We get to church with our minds buzzing about things of our life. What has been happening in our lives, what is happening and what will next week bring. We rush into church, find a seat (our usual?) sit waiting to be blessed. Then sometimes we leave not feeling blessed. Not feeling rest. In fact, sometimes, we can feel even more frustrated. The music wasn’t the genre we like, or it was too loud, or just the wrong songs. The worship team wasn’t dressed right. Then we start on the pastor. He wasn’t dressed right either. He was too formal and stiff. He was too informal and relaxed. He spoke with no passion and softly. He spoke too passionately and loud. His message was the same old thing. His message was filled with facts we didn’t and too much background, just preach it. Driving home we wonder what is wrong with this church. We assess and criticize it. We wonder where the blessing is. If Jesus was there, we sure didn’t see him.
In the above scripture Cleopas and his friend were talking about Jesus as they walked along. They were considering who He was and what was His mission. When they met the teacher they were prepared to hear what He had to say because their minds were already fixed on Jesus. They had something to learn and they listened. They even listened after the teacher rebuked them. They were drawn to the message that they had been thinking about. As the teacher spoke to their open and prepared minds, their minds were further opened. They saw Jesus and were excited and left with “burning hearts” to tell of what they had learned.
Family, if we were not blessed by the worship music, if we were not blessed by the message, as we search for the reason why, we should first position ourselves in front of a mirror and there we will find the reason why. See, it is those who are seeking who find the Lord (Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13, Luke 11:9). Those who find have both been, and are, seeking Him. They are actively seeking and then they find that He was first calling. Before we come to church, or Bible study, we must ready our hearts and come as a continuation of our pursuit of God. Then our pastors will preach amazing messages, the choir will sound like angels, the worship team will sing inspired and beautiful and we will leave blessed and thankful that God has given them to us to fan the flames that are already in our hearts. Matthew 6:33 “ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” First let us seek and then we will find.
If we want to know what is wrong with church…it’s probably our own self. But the good thing is that Jesus is ready to forgive us (1 John 1:9) and get us back on the path of blessings.
Blessings and love to all! God is good all the time and He loves us. Knowing these two things beyond all other things will keep us in peace at all times! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.