April 29
Judg 9:22-10:18 | PS 100:1-5 | Prov 14:11-12 | Luke 24:13-53
The other day on one of the nursing units, as I was writing my notes, a conversation broke out among the nurses, with one of them describing her insomnia. She stated how she has tried medications, seen a therapist, etc. I turned and asked if she has sought God yet. I explained on those nights that my mind is racing, often I either get out of bed and read Scripture or will meditate quietly in my bed over certain portions. This truly does work as this is where I find peace. This resulted in a nice discussion. Another day, speaking with a nurse at the hospital that shares many of my views both politically and surrounding the response to the virus, I changed directions and brought the conversation to the gospel, and the importance of finding salvation and peace in no other name. We must realize that there is nothing wrong with medications or discussions on many topics, but there is something better. In fact, only faith in Jesus Christ, who died, and rose from the dead, will direct a person in the right direction. Anything and everything else is a distraction. Placing our hopes in anything other the risen Lord is misplaced. As we read Scripture, we must not make those we read about as foreign to our situation now. Like now, they had families and jobs, and fit into society, many being nice and pleasant people. They often missed God then and so many miss God now.
In the book of Judges, as we once again find the people of Israel in a compromised state, we read the words of God in 10:13-14, "Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. “Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.” Like them, how often do we cry out to other gods, though often not realizing that they are false gods. We read in the conclusion of Luke, in 24:50-53, "And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen." Their view of Jesus was now complete. It was no longer placing their trust in Jesus, the miracle worker, or the teacher. They now placed their trust in the risen Lord, the one who conquered sin and death, and who rose from the grave and lives in heaven.
Though the hardships were just beginning for the disciples of Jesus, we see them worshipping and filled with great joy. Like them, we also suffer hardships in life. Peace and joy can only be found when our hope rests on the risen Lord. Nothing else will suffice. We have to recognize the traps, for they are many. The importance of spending daily, concentrated time in God's word cannot be overemphasized, as we read how Jesus redirected the conversation with two of his disciples who did not recognize Him initially, as we read in Luke 24:27, "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.", and again to His inner circle in 24:45, "And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." This is our way, pointing others to the Risen Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit, through the pages of God's Word, the Holy Scriptures. This is our right and privilege, and our commission. May we never forget this in the busyness of our days.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: