Today’s Bible Verse

So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

Luke 24:15-16 (NKJV)

Don’t Forget So Quickly

Jesus approached two of His disciples who were walking and conversing on the road to Emmaus. He confronted his disciples inquiring, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” (Luke 24:17). 

You would think that they would have lit up with joy to see their teacher back from the dead, alive and well, but they did not even recognize Him. It must have boggled Jesus’ mind to see that those who were standing nearby and had witnessed His death, burial, and resurrection had quickly forgotten all that they had seen. 

In verse 18, Cleopas, one of Jesus’ disciples who was walking together with Jesus, even dared to question Jesus, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which have happened there in these days?” Cleopas must have been so embarrassed when he found out he was explaining Jesus’ life and death to Jesus Himself. 

These disciples were trying to explain to the very One who had endured the Cross what had miraculously happened. They had no clue to whom they were speaking and quickly forgot what Jesus did for them. Why do you suppose this happened? Verse 16 says it was because “their eyes were restrained;” their vision was blurred; they were not seeing clearly.

Instead of focusing on Jesus, these disciples were focused on the circumstance. They were so focused on Jesus’ death that they could not enjoy the miracle of His resurrection right before their eyes. They also lacked a clear vision (purpose); their attention was on the temporary and not eternal. (Pastor Darlene Tsuha)

Change My Story

It is truly only when we look to Jesus through the scriptures that we can see the Truth. In John 1:1 (NKJV), it is written, “In the Beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It is by disciplining one’s self to ponder and memorize the Word that we can stop and recall God, who is the Word, when needed. Applying the Word to circumstances truly helps us to see life more clearly from God’s perspective.

Several years ago, a dear loved one of our family battled imagination and lies from the enemy, leading to contemplating suicide. The enemy taunted her day and night. Satan whispered in her ears that life was not worth living. That she should quit because no one cared about her. 

One evening, she was admitted into a psychiatric ward for observation and treatment. My family and I were able to visit with our dear relative. She never wanted us to leave her at the end of visiting hours because each time we visited, we helped her recollect the goodness of God and His Word. She was reminded of all the things He had done for her in the past and what He had in store for her future. 

Thank God that after about a week, she was released from the hospital. It took some time for her to learn to recall God’s Word and to fully cast down vain imaginations and everything that exalted itself against the Word of God. However, she eventually was able to battle the enemy on her own. It was the sweetest thing to hear her testify that the enemy, satan, does not have a hold of her life any longer, that Jesus went to the cross to take all of her sufferings so that she can live in freedom. 

Indeed keeping our eyes on Jesus’ finished work on the Cross (and His word) will help us appreciate every blessing and overcome every hardship through the lens of God because it is already finished. In the end, we win!

Today’s Declaration

I chose to lift up my eyes from where my help comes from. Right now, I take time to repent and ask you to forgive me dear God for forgetting all that you have done for me on the Cross at Calvary. Just the fact that you died for my sins is more than enough. I am so sorry for taking my life into my own hands, for being so self-centered and at times lazy that I let my feelings get the best of me. I acknowledge you, not just as my Savior; but also as my Lord. You are my loving Father, and I am wise to trust you at your Word. I’m yours, and by Your grace, you will help me remember that I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus! 

Today’s Bible Reading

• Old Testament: Jeremiah 26-29; Ecclesiastes 8
• New Testament: John 4:1-14; James 5:7-12