Third Sunday in Easter

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Godly Abiding Spiritually in Jesus Changes the Meaning of What we See Worldly When Not Abiding in Jesus.

Spirituality is our innate ability to feel the difference worldly or godly thinking makes to the way scripture translates to our daily life and relationships.

All Scripture is a testimony to Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God. He is the complete revelation of God’s will of grace for salvation. Grace is the only unfailing rule of faith and practice for the Christian life.

The Gospel of grace is: rather than trying to be more faithful to become faithful, we become faithful by feeling the Faith God already has for and in us.

The Strength of Christianity is Grace

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Another name for Jesus is "Grace". Another name for God is "Grace". We are saved by GRACE. "Love" is not Love if it is not grace. This is true for "Faith", "Hope", "Joy" and all other theological words of significance in the scripture.

Until someone experiences the grace gift in their lives, all other theological words have no real meaning. Why not begin to use the word "grace" in place of "Jesus", "God", "the Spirit", "Love" and so on? It might seem inappropriate to do so. However, until it is actually experienced it will make no sense at all.

That is what this year is all about. Grace, did you get it?

Finding Grace in Our Life

Grace makes darkness taste like sunrise.

When life seems to get dark, turn on the light of grace to see.

Prayers from Forward Day by Day.

Read this prayer literally for its religious meaning:

“O God, Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work.”

Now quietly move into God's Presence and pray the prayer spiritually:

“O God, Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work.”

Can you feel the difference?

Luke 24:13-35 “Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.”

Let us begin to wonder together. It is good for a dialogue. What was on their mind while they walked along the road to Emmaus? It had to be grief for the loss of their beloved leader. But, it also had to be more than that. There was anger at how their chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death and crucified Him. There was depression and loss of hope because they had hoped He was the one to redeem Israel. Their grief was long lasting, it was now the third day since these things took place.

There was confusion besides all this. Some women of their group astounded them. They were at the tomb early this morning and his body wasn’t there. Here was disbelief mixed with hope because when they did not find his body there, they came back and told everyone that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. He was to be the Messiah.

When we delve into their mind set, we realize they could not wrap their head around the events. It was too far to travel spiritually. And so they were going to travel physically to Emmaus. It was “get away from it all” time. Get away from the city that would not let them sleep. Back to the country that knows none of this. They were not trying to clear their heads. They were trying to escape what their head was telling them. And along came Jesus whom they did not recognize. They greeted Him and welcomed his presence.

Wait a minute. They are starting to argue with Him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”

This must be some kind of idiot! He asks them, “What things?” This is a real nut! Someone has got to straighten Him out. “The things about Jesus of Nazareth the prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.” Where were you when the lights were turned out?

Does any of this sound familiar? When was the last time you were on the road to Emmaus? It is a road we desperately want to take because we want to leave our mess behind us. We think we are escaping our disappointment, our grief, hurt and anger. We might as well add confusion, judgment and arrogance. The road to Emmaus is a lonely road. We don’t want to listen to any other questions from this ignorant person.

What if we were to take a moment and listen to Him. We won’t like it. But, that is too bad. The first words He will say to us are, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart.” The problems that put us on the road to Emmaus are spirit breaking because we have a “slow heart”. We are not talking about our physical heart. We are talking about our spiritual heart that speaks with the power and Wisdom of the Holy Spirit when we listen to it. Our head is filled with anger, judgment and hurt. It must control our heart with all that Peace, Love and Joy. We are having too much fun filling ourselves up with arrogance. Time is speeding on. Who has time any more to pick things up we dropped: the relationships that are still hanging out there in pain, the debts we have not paid for, the memories that we let haunt us with guilt and fear.  We are having too much fun to quit now. This is our life.

The truth is; it is our life. It is what we have created and what we live with. There is another life we can enter. Sometimes we do, but only in great emergencies. We are too proud to admit our life is a mess. It has always gone well in the past why not now? Then we recall our “issues” are still waiting for us in the darkness where they operate best. The darkness that turns off the light.

It does not take a lot of effort to turn a light on. The energy is already there and waiting. It is the moment of the Easter Switch. The moment the two on the road to Emmaus enjoyed when suddenly the heart talks back. How foolish you are. I have heard that voice coming from the inside. When it comes from the outside it is time to get defensive. When it comes from the inside, it is a choice to turn it on or stay in the dark.

Turn it on! Wonder what difference being in His Peace, Love and yes even Joy can make right now in your life. Turn it on! It is the Easter Switch.

Do you feel the difference?

THE DISCIPLE-SHIFT: The Virtual Small Group: Members share once a week with their group through the internet when a shift from being out to being in the Presence made a difference.