A WORD 4 NOW - WATCHFULNESS!

Prior to Pentecost, our Lord appeared to a few even before Peter upon whom He would establish His church. I strongly feel a word ringing from Scripture here, a warning bell, ringing a truth that I have not heard before:

We should not take for granted, knowing, seeing and hearing Jesus.

On the road to Emmaus (pictured), amazingly the two disciples were kept from recognising Him (Luke 24:16)! Why do you think that was? Was it because the crucifixion had disfigured Jesus to the point beyond recognition? Perhaps he was a heavenly being therefore was not altogether 'human'. I believe neither of these explanations fit here. I believe it was the expectation of the two men, or rather the lack of expectation, to be the reason they did not recognise the Man walking with them, and their understanding of God's plan from the words spoken of the prophets of old to that present day, they could not comprehend because their understanding was flawed. They were confused and in doubt, and grief-stricken, therefore they were unable to see.

Even though we might think we 'see' the evidence of Him with us, the Truth may be beyond us if we are not wholly walking with Him, in full understanding, in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus had to bring to the two men on that road the full context of Himself through the teachings of the old Testament beginning with Moses and the prophets concerning the Messiah, despite being right with them for them to see Him! But they could not, not until they sat with Jesus that evening to sup, and He broke the bread. Interestingly, as soon as they recognised Him, He disappeared. It is an immediate call to faith.

The full context of all their understandings: of what had been said, what had happened and what was happening at that hour, had to come into alignment! Even unto the point of sharing a meal. When the two men fully understood and accepted the full presence of our Lord, it was as if they were eating the long-awaited Messianic banquet! And we too, can sample of this truth. How beautiful!

"On the Road to Emmaus" watercolour by Paul Oman

LUKE 12:35-48: 'WATCHFULNESS'

"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be READY, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"

The Lord answered. "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will PUT HIM IN CHARGE OF ALL HIS POSSESSIONS. But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

"The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

Are you listening to the One who loves you, who gave His life for you, who fulfilled the words of the prophets and His Spirit dwells within you? Or are you swayed by the half-truths, the hidden savagery of the enemy who walks around as a wolf in sheep's clothing, ready to devour and deceive? The plea to repent and get your house, your temple in order, is calling out through Wisdom's words* and she is calling from the city gates!

Heed the voice of the Shepherd, and not the deceiver. We long not only to hear His voice, but we also want to see as He sees, so we can recognise our LORD on our own personal road to Emmaus!

Love, Deborah

* Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance - for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:5-7