April 16, 2018 Monday

“Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “And you are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:44-48 NKJV)

            Millions and millions of books have been written about God, Christianity by many scholars over many years.  So many words have been written over the years about God and Christianity that they form an endless chain which is so confusing they often bind rather than set free.

            Jesus reminds the disciples that His words are the ones all of us we need to learn from and that will be “fulfilled”.  Look at all the different words of so many different people from so many different times the words of Jesus pull together and make the plan of God become so clear.

            All Jesus went through and faced was written over thousands of years yet the majority of even Jews missed what was happening.  Their preconceived notion became an obstruction to seeing what was happening before their lives.

            As Jesus brought all of this together the disciples are reminded that they are witnesses showing the fulfillment of all those words God gave through generations and millennium.  What most missed about Jesus the disciples could now be witnesses of and share with others.

            All of this comes together to help us see the importance of looking for our understanding of God and the Church from HIS Word rather than from the words of people who like us struggle to pull together the words God revealed through so many.

            Like the disciples we must seek God’s revelation of the written word to understand the Living Word.

“And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

Depending on our own understanding or the understanding of others can lead us to miss what God is doing all around us and wants to do in our lives.

            Do you seek God’s truth from other people?  Do you first seek your questions and answers from God’s word?  Do you look to human words only as guides to help you more clearly see what God is revealing to you?

            Though feeling bad I was able to go to worship at Asbury.  Elizabeth came with Rebecca and I and Bonnie played the organ.  So many came up and said what a blessing Bonnie’s playing is to them and asking for Rebecca and Elizabeth to sing.  Rev Ashley had a great message and it was a great service.  The vision committee will meet next Sunday.  The day got worse but I rejoiced at being able to worship with God’s people.  The birds are coming to the bird-feeders a lot now and it a joy to see them.  I see Chickadees, finches and Tufted Titmouse’s.