Thoughts on the Road to Emmaus

". . . their eyes were opened, and they recognized him . . ." ?Luke 24:31

Two friends-people who had known Jesus, who had walked with Him, talked with Him, and eaten meals with Him every day for three years didn't recognize Him even on a long walk down a dusty road. Have you ever wondered about that? I have. How could that possibly be?

The reality is: the disciples were looking at a man who happened to be traveling along the same road they were. They did not see Jesus because they did not expect to see Jesus.

How many times on our walks through life do we not see Jesus? How many times do we talk with a co-worker or a parent or a child or a friend or even someone we have never met before and fail to recognize that this person holds a precious piece of Our Lord and Savior within them? And because we don't recognize Jesus in them, we treat them not as we would treat Jesus, but as just our friend, or just our co-worker, or just our child.

It must make Jesus terribly sad that for all our flowery words and pious presumptions, we still do not recognize Him in each other.

Moreover, consider this: Is it possible that in religious settings, we look at one another, and instead of seeing Jesus, we see only the other person's religion, their label? And because we don't see Jesus, we say, "You are so obviously not spiritual-look, you stand when we are kneeling, or you use crucifixes instead of picturing the risen Lord, or you pray to statues and icons instead of to the living God, or you don't have our label, and so, obviously God is not going to let you into His kingdom."

Thus, we spend so much time questioning each other's commitment to Jesus and so much time fighting over man-made rules and laws that we forget about those people who are lost and hurting. We forget to do God's real work-ministering to those who are hungry for His word and His truths to come into their lives. Instead, having been seduced by Satan to believe that God's kingdom is some kind of exclusive club, we spend our time fighting with each other about who is going to get in and completely fail to see that the world is going to hell around us.

However, we have the choice to open our eyes and commit ourselves to do God's work here on earth. Rather than judging, we can reach out to the lost souls-not by telling them about God's love, but by showing them how great God's love is. Witnessing by how we live and how we treat one another, so that they look to us and say, "I want to be like them. I want what they have." And then maybe God's grace will touch their hearts and make them ask, "How do I get it? What do they have that I don't?"

But living this way hinges on whether or not we see Jesus in every single person we happen to walk down a path with in our day-to-day lives. When we look at another person, do we see someone who is worthy of Christ's message? Someone whom God loves beyond measure? Do we see Jesus Himself-lost, hurting, and alone? Or do we see just another person.

I tell you truly, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. -Matthew 25:45

Think about the inherent admonition in these words. Our goal should be to treat others not as we want to be treated but as we would treat Jesus Himself. That is God's real work. We are commissioned to spend our time ministering to God's children-rather than trying to improve our status in His eyes or to impress one another.

By opening our eyes to Jesus' presence in the those around us, we will come to see His spirit manifesting in our own lives. And thus we can say as the disciples did at the conclusion to the Emmaus story,

"Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road . . ."-Luke 24:32

Open your eyes. This opportunity is with you right now. Don't waste this chance to get to know the Jesus who is in your midst at this very moment.

© Staci Stallings

Need more inspiration? Sign up for the monthly newsletter by Staci Stallings, the author of this article. Insights, quotes, inspiration and even a free novel by Staci sent two chapters at a time! To sign up, send a blank email to: newsletter@stacistallings.com You'll feel better for the experience!

---

Worship and Praise in Charismatic Churches

This article was in response to an email about someone... Read More

Theology, Hollywood Style

After years of watching TV shows and movies, I think... Read More

A Call to Action

Over the last week I have received dozens of heart-rending... Read More

Gods Favorite Religion

What does your church teach regarding the subject of Widows... Read More

Why Me

Why MeAs a Christian I feel the need to say... Read More

Is Your Life Significant?

"I also say to you that you are Peter, and... Read More

Prayer Secret #1 - Your Relationship with God

This, in my opinion, is the #1 "secret" for getting... Read More

What They Mean By Child-Like Faith

Prv:18:2 A Fool Receiveth Not The Words Of Prudence: Unless... Read More

End Time Events and the 2nd Coming of Jesus

In part 1 of this series of end time articles,... Read More

Religion Versus Science: The Truth

I find myself amazed and appalled that such strong antipathy... Read More

Your Focus Determines Your Reality

"Your focus determines your reality", this famous line was spoken... Read More

Building a Church and Church Building Designs

Building a church is a large project that is more... Read More

Making Merchandise of Christians ? Prosperity Gospel Blight

Anyone who has read their Bible would have to concede... Read More

The 7 Seal Judgements

These next 3 articles are going to be extremely HARD... Read More

Muhammad

FAITH THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS:The Way of the Peaceful Warrior is... Read More

Do You Know What It Takes To Crucify The Flesh?

The flesh is the part of us that resists our... Read More

Pope John Paul II, The Right Man at the Right Time

The world has been blessed to have Pope John Paul... Read More

Killing Red Heads

"With regard to the ancient Egyptians we have it on... Read More

We Must Be Ready. But How?

Revelation 19:7 states, "Let us rejoice and give honor unto... Read More

Armor-bearer Coach: Step Into the Ministry of Assisting

I am with you heart and mind..."Do all that you... Read More

Ministry Of Absence

I was meditating the other day and contemplating the thousands... Read More

The Reign of Insanity

I know you want to kill me, and I wish... Read More

While the World is on Fire

Revelation 8:8-8:9What will you be doing? How many people have... Read More

No Word Yet on Pedophiles With New Catholic Pope

The new Pope is not expected to break ranks with... Read More

Isnt There But One God?

I heard a pastor say, regarding people of the Muslim... Read More

Choose Your Friends Carefully

For those of you who have entered into a true... Read More

Purity

Is being purified only for the men of the cloth?... Read More

Muslims Are Losing Ground

Salmon Rushdie may have been the first to flee the... Read More

Gay Marriage Hitting Resistance

Gay marriage is hitting significant resistance in Washington D.C. where... Read More

The Rapture

Here is the 50 million dollar question - will there... Read More

What is God? Does Proof Exist?

Apology:I don't for a minute profess to know what God... Read More

Mirrors of Reality

Have you ever looked into a mirror and wondered what... Read More

Cut Off Your Hand!

Cut off your Hand!Arguably the most bizarre command of Christ... Read More