He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. John 2:11 [Sunrise pic by Rob Still, May 2 2013]

He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. John 2:11 [Sunrise pic by Rob Still, May 2 2013]

May 2 and 3 I’m leading worship workshops at the fabulous Inspire Worship Conference, check it out if you can.

Today  we have a guest post by Janelle Ross!

Janelle blogs at mymenandme, where she writes about family, faith, raising boys, and the pursuit of the simple life. She loves her little farm, where she lives with her men and an assortment of goats, chickens, llamas, donkeys, cats, and dogs.

Janelle is part of the awesome community of emerging authors at Tribe Writers,  founded by my friend Jeff Goins.

Take it away Janelle!

Day 32 Not Recognizing Jesus

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them, but they were kept from recognizing him.

Luke 24: 13-16

I am reading this story for, oh, about the seven thousandth time in my life, but this time I don’t get beyond this first paragraph. My eyes stop here, and my heart stops, too.

I know this story. I’ve listened to countless sermons that have emphasized all manner of different points along this Jerusalem-to-Emmaus journey. The unknowing travelers, the request for Jesus to stay longer with them, the irony of speaking face to face with the man they thought was dead, the immediate return to Jerusalem once they realized who He was.

Today, though, I can’t get past the first paragraph.

Today, I’m the one walking and talking and discussing, but not always recognizing.

I can be all about the talk. I can chatter, chatter about this and that. I can contemplate God and ministry and kingdom and Jesus and the latest book I’ve read on worship or discipleship or prayer.

I can write words upon words about Him, and still miss Him.

How I long to be aware of Him. To sit and talk with Him. To know Him. To stop my words long enough to hear His. To recognize Him.

This is my prayer today. That His sweet breath will blow His words into my heart, sending the clutter dancing away like tumbleweeds across the prairie, and that I will be open to His presence.

That He will break bread with me, and that I will recognize Him when He does.

Today, I’m listening.

Thanks Janelle!

Let’s Pray:

I invite  to pray with me.

The Jesus Prayer
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.”

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who lives in heaven,
Holy is your name.
Your kingdom come, you will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil
for Yours is the Kingdom,
and the power and the glory
Forever. Amen

The Lord be with you today!

About This Devotional Series

According to the historical church calendar, the Easter season is the 50 day period from Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.  I’ll post a fresh devotional thought with my sunrise photo of that morning, everyday through Pentecost, commenting as the Spirit inspires. Check out the rest of the series here.

Invite your friends.

If this series is helpful to you,  please forward and share with your friends through e-mail, Twitter, Facebook – whatever, just click the share buttons on this page.  Join us on the journey from Easter to Pentecost! 

Would you like more devotionals like this? 

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