Time Out! Devotions

It’s one of the most compelling narratives in all of Scripture. So fascinating is the scene, in fact, that Luke opted to record it in detail.

Two disciples are walking down the dusty road to the village of Emmaus. Their talk concerns the crucified Jesus. Their words come slowly, trudging in cadence with the dirge-like pace of their feet.

“I can hardly believe it. He’s gone.”

“What do we do now?”

“It’s Peter’s fault, he shouldn’t have … ”

Just then a stranger comes up from behind and says, “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing you. Who are you discussing?”

They stop and turn. Other travelers make their way around them as the three stand in silence. Finally one of them asks, “Where have you been the last few days? Haven’t you heard about Jesus of Nazareth?” And he continues to tell what has happened. (Luke 24:13-24)

This scene fascinates me—two sincere disciples telling how the last nail has been driven in Israel’s coffin. God, in disguise, listens patiently, his wounded hands buried deeply in his robe. He must have been touched at the faithfulness of this pair. Yet he also must have been a bit chagrined. He had just gone to hell and back to give heaven to earth, and these two were worried about the political situation of Israel.

“But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”

But we had hoped … How often have you heard a phrase like that?

“We were hoping the doctor would release him.”
“I had hoped to pass the exam.”
“We had hoped the surgery would get all the tumor.”
“I thought the job was in the bag.”

Words painted gray with disappointment. What we wanted didn’t come. What came, we didn’t want. The result? Shattered hope. The foundation of our world trembles.

We trudge up the road to Emmaus dragging our sandals in the dust, wondering what we did to deserve such a plight. “What kind of God would let me down like this?”

And yet, so tear-filled are our eyes and so limited is our perspective that God could be the fellow walking next to us and we wouldn’t know it.

You see, the problem with our two heavy-hearted friends was not a lack of faith, but a lack of vision. Their petitions were limited to what they could imagine—an earthly kingdom. Had God answered their prayer, had he granted their hope, the Seven-Day War would have started two thousand years earlier and Jesus would have spent the next forty years training his apostles to be cabinet members. You have to wonder if God’s most merciful act is his refusal to answer some of our prayers.

We are not much different than burdened travelers, are we? We roll in the mud of self-pity in the very shadow of the cross. We piously ask for his will and then have the audacity to pout if everything doesn’t go our way. If we would just remember the heavenly body that awaits us, we’d stop complaining that he hasn’t healed this earthly one.

Our problem is not so much that God doesn’t give us what we hope for as it is that we don’t know the right thing for which to hope. (You may want to read that sentence again.)

Hope is not what you expect; it is what you would never dream. It is a wild, improbable tale with a pinch-me-I’m-dreaming ending. It’s Abraham adjusting his bifocals so he can see not his grandson, but his son. It’s Moses standing in the promised land not with Aaron or Miriam at his side, but with Elijah and the transfigured Christ. It’s Zechariah left speechless at the sight of his wife Elizabeth, gray-headed and pregnant. And it is the two Emmaus-bound pilgrims reaching out to take a piece of bread only to see that the hands from which it is offered are pierced.

Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reaction.

From God Came Near: Chronicles of the Christ
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1985, 2004) Max Lucado

(by Pastor Jeff Schreve from Christianity.com)

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:15-16

It was second period at Bleyl Jr. High School in Houston, Texas.  I was talking to my friend, Mike, leaning back in my chair – a major “no-no” for the students.  I lost my balance at the wrong time and fell backward, right at the feet of the teacher.  She must have been having a BAD day because she freaked out and escorted me directly to the Principal, Mr. Brown.  (I did not even get to pass Go or collect my $200.)

At my school, when you got sent to the office, you typically saw one of the Assistant Principals, Mr. Sheridan or Mr. Rushing.  You NEVER saw THE Principal, Mr. Brown, unless the circumstances were severe.

Mr. Brown was very tough and intimidating.  I think his physiological make up was about 50% iron.  The stories of him giving swats were legendary.  It was basically reported that getting swats from Mr. Brown was akin to getting caned in Singapore.  Needless to say, I was scared to death as I sat in his office waiting for the hammer to fall.  Was I about to be surprised!

Mr. Brown was so nice to me.  He knew who I was and had watched me play basketball.  He was impressed with the way I could jump.  He laughed and joked with me and asked me about our team.  He was not mad at me at all.  He was gracious and compassionate.  He did not even mention swats.  I was amazed and relieved all at the same time.  I thought his office was going to be a place of judgment, but what I found was a place of grace.

GOD AND HIS THRONE

The Bible tells us that God sits on a throne of GRACE, not a throne of judgment and condemnation.  He wants to bless us, not curse us.  He is a merciful God who longs to pour out His lovingkindness on those who come to Him in humility, repentance and faith.

You know what that means?  God is a God you and I can get close to.  He wants us to draw near to Him.  He wants to help us in our time of need.  He is truly “a friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24).

The big questions are these: Will you and I take Him up on His generous and amazing offer to come boldly before His throne?  Will we avail ourselves of the help and strength that He promises to give us?  Will we believe His Word, or the erroneous things we have heard about Him concerning his anger and disgust for us in our weaknesses and failures?  These are questions that NEED to be answered, and answered correctly.

In closing, do you know who is one of my dear friends today?  That’s right, Mr. Brown.  He and I still keep in touch, and he never ceases to encourage me in my preaching and ministry.  He has been a blessing to me ever since the day I fearfully entered his office over 33 years ago.

You know what?  God is inviting you to meet Him today in His office.  He doesn’t want to swat you for your failures, He wants to love on you and fill you with His strength.  The office door is open.  Will you come?

Love,

Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with three wonderful girls. Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

Hebrews 2:17 (NIV)

¹⁷For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

You’ve barely dipped a toe into Matthew’s gospel when you realize Jesus hails from the Tilted-Halo Society. Rahab was a Jericho harlot. Grandpa Jacob was slippery enough to warrant an electric ankle bracelet. David had a personality as irregular as a Picasso painting – one day writing psalms, another day seducing his captain’s wife. But did Jesus erase His name from the list? Not at all!

Why did Jesus hang His family’s dirty laundry on the neighborhood clothesline?

Because your family has some too. The dad who never came home. The grandparent who ran away with the coworker. If your family tree has bruised fruit, then Jesus wants you to know, “I’ve been there.”

The phrase “I’ve been there” is in the chorus of Christ’s theme song. To the lonely, Jesus whispers, “I’ve been there.” To the discouraged, Christ nods His head and sighs, “I’ve been there.”

(by Max Lucado from his book, Next Door Savior)

I love the Lord because He hears my prayers and answers them. Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe!

Death stared me in the face – I was frightened and sad. Then I cried, “Lord, save me!” How kind He is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects the simple and the childlike; I was facing death and then He saved me. Now I can relax. For the Lord has done this wonderful miracle for me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall live! Yes, in His presence – here on earth!

In my discouragement I thought, “They are lying when they say I will recover.” But now what can I offer Jehovah for all He has done for me? I will bring Him an offering of wine and praise His name for saving me. I will publicly bring Him the sacrifice I vowed I would. His loved ones are very precious to Him and He does not lightly let them die.

O Lord, You have freed me from my bonds and I will serve You forever. I will worship You and offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

(Psalm 116:1-17 – The Living Bible)

God is not so far away that you cannot reach Him. He “bends down and listens” to your prayers. This writer’s love for the Lord had grown because he had experienced answers to his prayers.

If you are discouraged, remember that God is near, listening carefully to every prayer and answering each prayer in order to give you His best.

James 2:10, 12-13 (NIV)

¹⁰For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

¹²Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

It is easy to spot the sins in others while we overlook or rationalize our own. James reminds us that if we’ve broken just one law, we are sinners. You can’t break the law a little bit; if you have broken it at all, you need Christ to pay for your sin. Measure yourself, not someone else, against God’s standards. Ask for forgiveness where you need it, and then renew your effort to show your faith by your actions.

Our sins are forgiven by God’s mercy alone. We can’t earn forgiveness by forgiving others. But when we withhold forgiveness from others after having received it ourselves, it shows we don’t understand or appreciate God’s mercy toward us (Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:31-32).

James 2:17 (The Living Bible)

So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all — it is dead and useless.

Living the way God wants us to live does not earn our way into heaven, but it shows that our commitment to God is real. Godly conduct is not a substitute for, but a verification of our faith in Christ.

(from The Life Application Bible – Living Bible edition)