Our Living Lord and Burning Hearts

Who will walk with you?
How do you deal with incredulity?

Two men. Grown men. Tough men. Trudging along a dusty road. Visibly sad and disheartened. Talking. Trying to sort out the events of the last week. Confused and disconsolate. Defeated and adrift. Talking heart to heart. Reminiscing. Reviewing collapsed dreams and disintegrated hopes. Trying to help each other. Each thankful for the other.

We don't know if these two men were special friends. But we do know that they commuted and communed together that eventful day now so long ago. Did they just naturally gravitate toward each other? Or was it a common destination that put them on the Emmaus-Jerusalem path together? Whatever the case, they had each other during this time of trauma, confusion and need. So they walked together, talking. reasoning.

Who in your Sunday School class will walk with you? With whom will you walk? Will anyone walk with you? Will you walk with anyone? You need someone to walk with you, especially during those difficult, perplexing times. And the person next to you or across from you has the same need. Why go it alone? Walk with someone!

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

"Woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:10).

Even so, remember that these two Emmaus-bound disciples didn't find the solution to their problems until Jesus joined their walk and talk. So, when you are walking, make it a three-some!

These two men couldn't quite believe what they had been told. Jesus had told them He would die. While He was still alive, they couldn't quite believe it. After all, He had thwarted the plans of His enemies so many other times . . . and He was so obviously powerful. Jesus also told them He would rise on the third day. After He died, they didn't believe He would come back to life, for who had ever restored life to himself? Then the women told them Jesus was alive and that He wanted the disciples in Galilee. Oh, come now! So here they are, heading for Emmaus instead.

Can you be open enough with yourself to acknowledge your own areas of incredulity? I challenge you to pinpoint those Scriptures that clearly state truth which you have a problem accepting and living. Perhaps you don't understand something, so you don't want to submit to it. Can you be that open with yourself? How about with your Sunday School class?

Good! Now, how will you deal with it? The first response ought to be one of unconditional surrender and obedience. I have purposed to obey the Lord and His Word . . . even if I don't understand, even if I just can't see it. The second response ought to be akin to "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24). Then we can claim God's promise in Proverbs 20:12--"The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them."

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