The story of some very upset and confused Jesus-followers is found in Luke 24, verses 25 and following. Over the past few years these two men had learned to love Jesus. Within each of them grew the hope and even assurance that he was the long-expected Messiah!
Then, unbelievably, they saw him captured and quickly executed! Their expectations were crushed! A Messiah would never allow himself to be captured! Father God would never ever allow his Messiah to suffer such a shameful contemptible death!
And to add to all this, earlier that day some women from their group arrived reporting they’d visited the tomb site and found it empty. Two angels spoke to them and told them that Jesus was risen from the dead!
More confusion was added to their grief.
As they walked along the road to Emmaus that afternoon, Jesus began walking alongside them, not revealing his identity. They poured out the story to him. Later, over supper, he said to them, “You foolish people! … Wasn’t it clearly predicted…?”
As I was reading this story recently, the Holy Spirit, interrupted and startled me. He said to me, “You foolish daughter! … Wasn’t it clearly predicted …?”
You see, I’d entered my devotional time that day with an upset spirit. Why? – you pick the reasons!
- I’d just read a true story of unbelievable cruelty and abuse to a little orphan child.
- I’d watched the news of only increasing turmoil in the US.
Over the last months, I’d concluded that I couldn’t ever really know the motivations of people in leadership. I couldn’t really know what was truth anymore.
My spirit was deeply upset.
And Jesus, the Lover of my soul, knew my thoughts. He spoke to me that day.
“My foolish daughter! Wasn’t it predicted…?”
Yes Lord – You’ve clearly predicted that perilous times would come, that people’s hearts would fail them because of fear.
Once again, the Holy Spirit used the Word to minister powerfully to the exact need in my heart that morning!
One of the battlefronts Satan is working in in these most perilous days, is that of our minds and spirits. How often we’re caught up in the current controversies. Our spirit is filled with hurt, confusion. How can people, even Christians, act this way, say these things?
But when I recognize that my spirit is upset and go to the Word and to prayer, my great and gracious Lord ministers healing, reassurance, and guidance. And once more, the plans of Satan for my day are defeated!!
Thank you Lord! You are amazing! How well you know me! And how graciously you minister to me!
Every time you do this, I am in awe again!
Beautiful!
This is absolutely “a word in season”. Thanks.