Scripture: Luke 24:13-15; 19 – 21
There are people, attending churches across America troubled about things going on in their lives and have begun to lose hope. Some tend to believe that God just doesn’t care about them.
While sitting in churches, some just pretend to praise and worship, going through the motions, acting as if they believe, but deep down inside, there is a hollowness because they have begun to lose hope.
The disciples listened to Jesus, followed Jesus, believed in Jesus, but saw Him dying on a cross and now, three days later, these two are distraught, scared and confused and walking the wrong way. It appears they have been losing their hope and thinking God just doesn’t care!
The disciples thought, “What do we do now? Go home or go to Jerusalem?” How many of us have found ourselves asking, “Do I go home or do I go to Jerusalem? Does anybody care?”
Can you imagine two hours of talking on the phone, or Facebook, with someone about a situation or circumstance in your life and there’s no talk about hope or the Word of God?
These two disciples missed the significance of Jesus’ crucifixion and His resurrection because they were too focused on their problems, disappointments, and dis-cussings!
And Jesus walks along with them. And He asks, “What’s up? Why are you dis–cussing as you walk?” They stood still, looked downcast and asked, “Man, are you the only one without a social media platform? You don’t have a cell phone, Facebook, or Instagram to know what happened in Jerusalem about Jesus?”
He was the man! The prophet, mighty in word and deed before God and all the people, and they crucified Him! Jerusalem was this way, seven miles. They wanted to go to Emmaus, seven miles, back home.
Don’t let your perspectives make you want to go back home. Don’t let your “stuff” carry you in the wrong direction. Don’t get so involved in personal perspectives you don’t recognize Jesus when He’s walking beside you!
Don’t forget your hope. Don’t forget He said, “He’d never leave nor forsake! Don’t forget to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not unto your understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”
Don’t forget to: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all else will be added unto you.” Don’t forget “You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you.” Don’t forget with God, “all things are possible.” Don’t forget “If God is for you who can be against you.” Don’t forget, “by His stripes we are healed.” Don’t forget, He died, was buried, but God raised Him from the dead with “all power in His hands!”
Just because a situation looks bleak doesn’t mean it can’t change! God is still God and still sits on a throne! Don’t forget Jesus is the Holy One who “sits at the right hand of God the Father to judge the quick and the dead.”
Walk with Jesus. Talk with Jesus along the way. Instead of dis – cussing let Him hear you sing:
“And, He walks with me and talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry we there. None others can ever know.”
The Rev. Michael W Eagle, Sr., MA, is the pastor of Grant AME Church in Long Beach, CA.
