Strangers We Meet

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

                                       (Luke 24:13-15 KJV)

As rumors swirled around about Jesus being killed and then rising from the dead, two men were on their way to Emmaus. Along the road they met Jesus; but, they did not know who he was. They talked with him and eventually invited him to come and eat with them. 

In today's world, strangers don't talk to one another much. At least, not unless they have to! How often do we avert our eyes when meeting someone on the sidewalk or in a store rather than greet them?

Every now and then I will strike up a conversation with a stranger in a check out line or some other such place. But, no where near as often as conversations occurred even ten years ago. It use to drive my grandchildren crazy when I would stop and talk to strangers that we met. They thought is was a waste of time; that there was no purpose in talking to strangers. Today, the art of communing with strangers (and even acquaintances) seems to have become a lost art. 

Growing up, my parents talked to everyone they met! If the conversations went especially well my mother would invite them over for a meal. They met a lot of wonderful people that way. 

These two men, on their way to Emmaus, met a stranger on the road. They struck up a conversation and then invited him to eat with him. The stranger turned out to be the risen Lord. One can never tell who we will meet on our journeys. Be kind! Treat them as you would treat the Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Proclamation By Word And Deed

Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”  Acts 20:9-10 NIV

The purpose of preaching is not to bore someone to death. It is not for putting anyone to sleep; but, to shake them up; wake them, up to good news of the Kingdom through Jesus the Christ for all who would believe in him. 

Paul was pretty excited to share the good news that the Messiah had indeed come. He was so enthused that he talked and talked and talked and Eutychus got so tired that he fell asleep and off the third story balcony or window ledge or from wherever he was seated. He died from that fall. But, Paul took him in his arms and Eutychus lived.

My sermons are usually not very long. But, I must confess that I have indeed sat with friends long into some nights talking about the wonderful gift that we have in Jesus. I hope that those conversations were not all one-way conversations with me doing all the talking. That would put anyone to sleep.

The Word of God brings life. We must proclaim this good news. But, it is not necessary to make long, long winded speeches. Sometimes, it takes fewer words and a little more action to see the truly inspirational love of God. Sometimes, along with the words, there needs to be a little action. That life giving action just might be to take someone who is hurting, who may be spiritually dead, in your arms and just hold them.

Proclaiming the good news is necessary; but, so is living the good news by loving even as Jesus loves you.

God's Peace - Pr. J