I heard this title as I arose this morning from my table after my morning cup of coffee and half of a bagel. Yes, that’s my usual boring breakfast day after day. It was nice to see the brightness of the morning with blue skies engulfing this yellow ball in the sky that we call the sun.
Every year we celebrate Resurrection Sunday and remember that Jesus Has Risen! As I reflected, this day, I thought that one day we will rise with the Lord to our heavenly home. Oh, what a glorious day that will be!
For now, back here on this place called earth, He is calling us to arise from the things that drag us down and hold back our victory. Resurrection power is to remind us that we can experience more than we ever thought was possible, for He is the God of the impossible. He doesn’t change, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; but our circumstances may change.
How do we rise above sickness, hurts, betrayals, and misunderstandings? You name it, the list is high and wide, but not too much for our God to handle for us.
As I opened up my devotional today, this sentence leaped into my spirit, “We were created for the high places of faith, not the low places of fear and doubt.”
What do we need to rise up from? What is holding us down or back that we may need to break away from? Is there something we need to recognize so we can believe at another level? This story may help us:
After the Resurrection, Jesus made many appearances back here on the earth to reassure His friends He is alive and well. What may have looked really bad, like the chapter in their life had ended, actually did not.
Their new life in Christ was just beginning. God had another plan, another chapter to be written as part of their story.
They were being commissioned for Kingdom-minded business.
On the road to Emmaus, which is a village about seven miles from Jerusalem, two men on this road were traveling and chatting about everything that happened at the tomb of Jesus. “As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him.” (Luke 24: 14-15)
Why were they kept from recognizing Him? It is by a special divine intervention that this occurred. Timing is everything! That’s why when things don’t happen WHEN we want them to happen, it may just be a timing issue. It doesn’t necessarily mean God is not hearing us or not answering our prayer.
On a side note, the folks that would not hear anything about a man named Jesus from us may still come to know Him. It may have just been their watering season or planting season. God may raise up another person to open up their heart and mind, because their time may now be ripe.
As Jesus has positioned Himself anonymously He slyly asks, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” (Luke 24: 17)
These two men were amazed that this man did not hear about the risen Christ.
We have to learn to recognize what’s right in front of us. The answer could be walking among us and we are not even aware.
- Pay attention who you listen to and walk with.
Jesus continues to listen to them as they talk of how the women went to the tomb and found an empty body, but, “Some of the companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women said, but Him they did not see.” (Luke 24: 24)
- Many still need to see and find Him.
Jesus patiently waits for an opening and says, “How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe, all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” (Luke 24: 25-26) He then tells them of Moses and all of the writings of the prophets in the Old Testament who were speaking about Him.
Kingdom-minded Christ-followers are being challenged to know what we believe.
We must NOT be slow of heart to believe!
The fellowship continues with the three and Jesus breaks bread with them. “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.” (Luke 24: 44)
- Jesus wants us to remember that He is the Bread of Life.
- The Bread of Life is not dead but now alive–alive forevermore.
Kingdom-minded believers are to rise to a new level of belief and to a new level of peace.
- Brokenness paves the road for us to see differently.
- When we see Him, we see differently.
- The men and the disciples recognized who Jesus was when He broke the bread.
Open hearts and open minds help us to see differently and understand. “He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures.”
Kingdom-minded folks must believe what is written in His Word to rise and climb to new heights.
We are clothed with power from on high. “Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24: 48)
Did they stay in that place? Nope, “He led them out…” (Luke 24: 50) He then blessed them and was taken up to heaven.
Did they stay in that place? Nope, “They worshiped and returned to Jerusalem and stayed continually at the temple praising God.” (Luke 24: 52)
Kingdom-minded believers are also to rise continually to a new place in worship.
Let the worshipers arise! We are being called up and out!
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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