SEEK UNDERSTANDING

TEXT: LUKE 24:25 – 35

KEY VERSE: They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and opening the Scriptures to us?” – Luke 24:32 AMP

When the unexpected happens, people naturally respond in three ways: fight, freeze or take flight. How did you respond the last time you found yourself amid the unexpected, especially the recent COVID-19 lockdown?

How long did it take you before you were able to quieten yourself and listen to God? So many now turn first to Google to provide answers from sources that may not hold the same beliefs, and only when they have reached a dead-end do they remember the Lord of life.

As long as the disciples continued to speak, Jesus was silent; they poured out their frustration at the dashed hopes and expectations; they revealed their mindset as they followed Jesus and shared their doubts about what others had to say about the situation.

When they decided to listen, Jesus clarified the situation beginning with what they knew already, explaining God\’s perspective on the events they failed to understand due to their mindset.

Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. – Luke 24:27 NLT

Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; – James 1:19 AMP

Apostle James gives us a key to the proper response in the face of unexpected interruptions in life, seek understanding by being quick to hear and less eager to speak. So many things happening in our world today are too deep to understand without the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus began to explain things using the scripture.

The primary go-to place for answers is the scripture, the last place many want to start. They will typically argue their points, look to people to provide their perspectives, and sometimes even trust unbelieving relatives to have answers instead of the Bible. Jesus started with the Bible, and this is why.

For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person] and both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12 AMP

The word of God is active and illuminating; when used skillfully, it exposes wrong mindsets, faulty beliefs, and biases. The word of God gives you that “Aha- moment” about complex life issues; hear the word of the disciples;… They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and opening the Scriptures to us?” – Luke 24:32 AMP.

Jesus opened the scriptures to them; he did not just quote them. Secondly, the truth came alive to them and warmed their hearts. When last did you hear the scriptures that warmed your heart?

The Passion Translation puts the exact text in this way;
Stunned, they looked at each other and said, “Why didn’t we recognize him? Didn’t our hearts burn with the flames of holy passion while we walked beside him? He unveiled for us such profound revelation from the Scriptures!” – Luke 24:32

Do you know there are profound revelations you cannot access in the scriptures? Do not replace the scriptures with the quotes of any other man, woman, or sayings. David models for us the power of understanding in the face of the unexpected.

But now he is dead; why should I [continue to] fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him [when I die], but he will not return to me.” – 2 Samuel 12:23

How did David conclude that grief must not be overextended? How could he return to the house of God to worship even when he had prayed and fasted about the situation? David had a belief that was worthy of notice and emulation.

David said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, \’Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live. – 2 Samuel 12:22

What we believe about prayers is based on our thoughts. What are your thoughts about prayer? Can God overrule your desires? Must God act on all your wishes and desires? Do we have the right in prayers to order God to do things our way?

Allow the scriptures to speak to you about the truth; you know the facts, l don’t dispute them, but Jesus is the truth, and when you invite him into your situation and give him a listening ear, he will light up your darkness and his truth will set you on the right path.

I long for the past when God took care of me and the light from his lamp showed me the way through the dark. I was in the prime of life; God All-Powerful was my closest friend, – Job 29:2-4 CEV.

You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. – Psalm 18:28 NLT

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. – John 8:32 NLT.

We don’t know why the disciples chose to leave Jerusalem for Emmaus, but their encounter caused them to return to fellowship with the apostles and other brethren. Have you shut others out of your life? Have you blamed God and decided to avoid prayer, the word, and fellowship? Now is a good day to return to God; he never willingly punishes or causes us pain. When we suffer, he suffers too, but more than the pain, he wants to help you walk into the future, not with grief and confusion, but with understanding and hope.

You don’t have to wait till the end of the tunnel to see the light, Jesus is light, and he wants to walk through the darkness with you. Are you ready?

Prayer
Father, l know you are here right now; thank you for your faithfulness to me in this season of pain. I open my heart and life to you, come and shine your light in my darkness. Forgive my anger, doubts, and assumptions, and show me the truth in your word so l can live again.

Please help me find the answers that uplift and comfort me; help me see the way out you have prepared for me already. I trust you father, l believe you, hear my prayer in Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Ada

Photo by Obed Hernández on Unsplash