Luke – Doors Wide Open!
Traveling is not really all that glamorous. Can I get an amen from seasoned travelers? I used to travel a lot in a former position as a trainer to churches across the nation and around the world. I loved preparing with God, asking for what He wanted to say to His people. I loved leaving to go there, full of anticipation for what God would do once we gathered to learn. I loved being there with people who wanted to learn and grow in their faith and teaching. I did not love getting there and returning. The journey wasn’t always easy.
Leaders and pastors who would set up these training events for their churches would give me directions for getting to their remote (to me) places of worship. If these men and women grew up in the area, their directions would sometimes be given with outdated street names that changed over the years to other names. That was never helpful. This was before GPS with a voice telling me every turn. If I was alone, and many times I was, I would have to drive and follow written directions at the same time. It is a good thing I had many prayer warriors asking God for my safe travel! I will admit I am directionally challenged so I would pray before leaving, asking God to show me every important sign along the way so I wouldn’t get lost. I had a tight schedule to keep so I allowed time for lostness. Crazy, right? It wasn’t God’s fault, I would just get distracted by traffic, people and others things. So, sometimes I did get lost.
Getting lost is frightening. There is no worse feeling than knowing your are lost in a place you have never been. As a female who has an active imagination it was especially disconcerting. After praying in my “lost-ness”, I would eventually see the signs I had missed and get back to where I needed to be. Peace, joy and gratitude for finding the right way was expressed in shouts of praise to God!
Luke 11, New Living TranslationThe Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowd pressed in on Jesus, he said, “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. 30 What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God.
31 “The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here—but you refuse to listen. 32 The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.
Receiving the Light
33 “No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.
34 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. 35 Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. 36 If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”
ASK FOR DIRECTION, NOT MIRACLES!
Sometimes in our lostness in life we want to see signs of proof and miracles of God, but that is a dangerous request. It is almost insulting to God, especially when He is right in front of us. He has been there all the time, waiting for us to open our hearts, minds and souls ask for directions back to Him. So, stop and ask for direction, not miracles.
Yes, God is a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper and light in the darkness as we sang last Sunday in worship, but we don’t need a “sign” to find Him. We just need to follow the Light and say, “YES, Lord, I’m listening”. “Show me your direction by your Light.” “Show me the path to take and Light the way.” “God, you are, indeed, the Light of Life, the Light the floods my soul, the Light that pierces all the dark places and makes me whole.” “Your Light reflects from lives fully yielded to God completely! Be the Light of my life, Lord!”
Dear Heavenly Father,You are still here. You are still willing to show the way by Your Light of Love. You still forgive and restore. You are God and we are not. Thank you for helping us find our way back to You. We pray for those around us who have not found you. May your Light reflecting from us be enough to help others find you and be drawn to you. Help us all to grow, bearing the fruits of Your Holy Spirit, by Your Light! I love you, Lord with all my heart, mind and soul. Help me to love others like you love me.
In Jesus Name, Amen
And I’m singing…Way Maker
You are here
Moving in our midst
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Working in this place
I worship you
I worship you
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God
That is who you are
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God
That is who you are
You are here
Touching every heart
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Healing every heart
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Turning lives around
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Mending every heart
I worship you
I worship you
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
That is who you are…
