“Open our eyes, Lord we want to see Jesus.
To reach out and touch him and say that we love him.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Unfortunately the account of Jesus’ appearance on the “Road to Emmaus” (Luke 24:13–35) isn’t blessing us in worship this year. However, we were able to connect with the resurrection account in Luke 24 where we experienced the OPEN tomb. It is there Jesus invites us into HOPE and new life! Then when we read further in the chapter we learn of the encounter on the road to Emmaus and experience Jesus OPENING the Scripture, where again Jesus invited those with him into the HOPE promised in the Scriptures. As the followers of Jesus stop for the night, they OPEN their home to Jesus INVITING him into their lives. Jesus then takes the bread, breaks it and the followers eyes are OPENED to see our Lord as he, again, INVITED them into an experience with him, the risen Christ!
Jesus still INVITES us in through the OPEN tomb of HOPE,… the Scriptures through which our Lord OPENS to us the HOPE he has for us daily,… in the breaking of the bread, communion, Jesus OPENS up to us his grace and presence AND now, Jesus wants us to OPEN our eyes and hearts daily to receive him as both individuals and in the community of believers.
We all get caught up in our lives, where we see only the present moment… the job… family… weekend trips… and the day to day things that keep us busy. We all find that there are days when our hearts and eyes are downcast like the disciples’ on the road to Emmaus, where we can’t look up long enough to really see Jesus as he is walking beside us, inviting us to join him. We all, at some time or another, choose to close our eyes to Jesus’ invitation to read and meditate on his Word… join with his community of believers… see him in our neighbors and then to reach out through the ministry teams of our church to change the lives of children, as well as adults.
Some questions for us to think about this month!
Are we responding to Christ with OPEN eyes, hearts and lives?
Are our eyes OPEN as we look for Jesus in the world around us?
Are our hearts OPEN as we take in the Scriptures?
Are our perspectives different as the Holy Spirit INVITES us to be OPEN?
Are we OPEN to the INVITATION of God’s community of faith?
Are we open to connect with our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Are we willing to INVITE someone who needs their eyes to be OPENED?
After you think about some of these questions I pray we all will be OPEN to finding new ways to connect or reconnect at Bethel. I pray we all will be OPEN to Christ’s new ways in touching each one of us and our hearts!
I do want each of you to know how overwhelmed I was at your outpouring of love to those in need. Your gifts of food and money for Interfaith were an OPEN EYED response to the INVITATION of Jesus to meet the needs of the community who are hungry! Thank you for reaching to others in the name of our risen Lord!
In Christ,
Pastor Barb
P.S. Be watching with excitement for our new brand and logo.
It is right around the corner.
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