Puzzle Pieces and Chasing Rabbits
How many of you like doing puzzles? I’m not very good at them. Maybe because I’m not very patient. I like seeing the puzzle completed, and I don’t mind observing the process that it takes to complete them, but for me to sit down and work on one, that’s not one of my hobbies. However, when it comes to figuring out how to fit the pieces of the Bible together and observing that process, I could spend hours and hours on it. In theological circles, the practice is known as Biblical Theology. But even more so, I love the final picture. I love to see how the Bible fits together and reveals the beauty and glory of Jesus Christ! How about you?
This past Sunday, my father-in-law was able to preach for me. It is always a blessing for me and my family to hear him proclaim God’s Word. I am thankful that he unpacked Luke 24:13-35 and the Road to Emmaus. In his message, he illustrated the conversation that went down between Jesus and the disciples on that road. Like puzzle pieces, the disciples couldn’t fit the Scriptures together. But Jesus came alongside them, and revealed to them, how it all points to Him. Jesus put the puzzle together. I wish we could have been there on that day. Like the disciples, I am certain that our hearts would have ‘burned within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures’ (Luke 24:32). That truly would be every preacher’s dream.
Even though we couldn’t be there, what do we do? How can we make progress in putting the puzzle pieces together?
The other thing that jumped out to me from my father-in-law’s sermon was the rabbit trail he took us on. He told us he was ‘chasing rabbits’ and stepped aside for a moment to apply an aspect of the text to our everyday lives. In Luke 24:15, we learn that ‘while they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.’ But they didn’t recognize Him. It was good to be reminded that in our trials, in our difficulties and challenges in life, we can know with certainty that Jesus draws near to us. He goes with us through the storms of life. What a word of assurance and comfort! So glad he decided to chase the rabbits.
Do you realize that Jesus is drawing near to you in your situation and context?
Do you recognize that He is with you on the mountains and in the valleys of life?
May God assure you of His presence. And may He open our eyes to see the beauty of our crucified and risen Savior!
For this week: Read Acts 6:1-7
This past Sunday, my father-in-law was able to preach for me. It is always a blessing for me and my family to hear him proclaim God’s Word. I am thankful that he unpacked Luke 24:13-35 and the Road to Emmaus. In his message, he illustrated the conversation that went down between Jesus and the disciples on that road. Like puzzle pieces, the disciples couldn’t fit the Scriptures together. But Jesus came alongside them, and revealed to them, how it all points to Him. Jesus put the puzzle together. I wish we could have been there on that day. Like the disciples, I am certain that our hearts would have ‘burned within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures’ (Luke 24:32). That truly would be every preacher’s dream.
Even though we couldn’t be there, what do we do? How can we make progress in putting the puzzle pieces together?
- Keep reading the Bible.
- Seek to understand what the original author intended.
- Consider what came before the passage that you are reading.
- And then, reflect on how it points to Jesus.
The other thing that jumped out to me from my father-in-law’s sermon was the rabbit trail he took us on. He told us he was ‘chasing rabbits’ and stepped aside for a moment to apply an aspect of the text to our everyday lives. In Luke 24:15, we learn that ‘while they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.’ But they didn’t recognize Him. It was good to be reminded that in our trials, in our difficulties and challenges in life, we can know with certainty that Jesus draws near to us. He goes with us through the storms of life. What a word of assurance and comfort! So glad he decided to chase the rabbits.
Do you realize that Jesus is drawing near to you in your situation and context?
Do you recognize that He is with you on the mountains and in the valleys of life?
May God assure you of His presence. And may He open our eyes to see the beauty of our crucified and risen Savior!
For this week: Read Acts 6:1-7
Recent
Archive
Categories
no categories
No Comments