Let’s Take a Walk
I’ve loved seeing the Easter photos of families enjoying their Easter celebrations – their new Easter clothes, meals together, and egg hunts. My youngest two grands (16 and 18) still hunt for the eggs that their mama “rabbit” hid in their back yard. I know Mama Rabbit’s story – she wants to hold onto the traditions for as long as she can. She even had Easter baskets for the older brothers. She knows it won’t be long before those boys will be making traditions for their own families!
Today is Monday AFTER Easter! That Easter fun is over, but the crux of the REAL matter of Easter celebrations is still burning in our hearts. We are still in awe of this incredible reason for our faith. Our Lord LIVES and is walking life with us daily!
Jesus didn’t slow down after His resurrection. His involvement in the lives of His followers went into overdrive when He came out of that grave! I need that reminder. Life happens for us, and we allow the resurrection story to fade as we handle the ups and downs of our daily lives. But the resurrection story should change EVERYTHING about our daily lives!
Remember the two disciples who were returning home to Emmaus from Jerusalem after the crucifixion and the “supposed” resurrection of the Lord (Luke 24:13-35)? The women reported that angels at the empty tomb announced: “He is alive.” But the two walking home to Emmaus thought those women were delusional.
The reports of the empty tomb confused them, but that Sunday afternoon, Jesus met up with them. He encouraged them and explained the message of the resurrection, and reminded them of His promises, but they didn’t recognize Him until He went home with them, broke bread, blessed it and gave it to them.
They had seen Jesus do this when he fed the five thousand and the four thousand and in the Upper Room. Their eyes opened and they recognized Him. Then He disappeared. It was then that they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32) Their hearts burned within them when He shared scriptures with them.
That is my prayer, too — that my heart would burn within me at the reality of His unfailing Word and that I would be stirred by His presence in my life daily. Don’t you love it when you’ve read or heard a scripture many times, but then suddenly you hear it again, but this time it’s like a light comes on and you finally “get it” — just like those disciples realized it was Jesus with them? This time, it’s God’s perfect timing for His Word to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our pathway.” (Psalm 119:105)
Perhaps, if we continue in this magnificent truth of our Risen Lord daily, our hearts will continue to burn with faith, His love will flow from us to others who need an encounter with Him, and we just may be His hands extended to them. We are those disciples on the road to Emmaus, living our lives in the real world, walking along with Jesus who is always there with us on the road, whether we recognize Him or not. He listens to us, and understands us, because He became one of us. He gets us.
Are you confused, hurting, perplexed or need advice and wise counsel today? Maybe it’s time to go for a life-changing “Walk with Jesus” today. I promise you – He’ll be walking with you! As a matter of fact, I’ll see you later – it’s time for my walk!