Word@Work Luke360 - Luke 24:36-45
Published: Thu, 05/19/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
PEACE IN KNOWING THE TRUTH
Luke 24:36-45
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (NIV)
Doubt and anxiety are opposed to peace. Doubt is uncertainty about the present and anxiety has no confidence about the future. Both of these are human responses to uncertainty and insecurity. Peace resolves both, and comes with the confidence that all is well and will be well, when we trust the One who is unchanging and secure as a rock.
Even though the disciples agreed that Jesus was alive, they were not ready for Him suddenly appearing in the room with them. Even though He spoke peace over them they were still scared and needed more reassurance. But His invitation to examine His mutilated hands and feet, and eating solid food, created the kind of incredulity more associated with fantasy than reality. So what was it that enabled doubt to disappear? Jesus used the written Word of God to explain the amazing signs and wonders they had seen.
Many people suggest that if they could see Jesus they would believe in Him, and if they had physical evidence they would accept what He had to say. But that is not true. Although the disciples had all that, it was not enough to convince them. They needed the truth of God's Word to explain the miracle of God's grace. It is the same for our generation, which is wonderful ... we have no disadvantage in faith just because we were not there at the time, if God's Word is available to explain what it all meant. Never underestimate the ability of the Bible to penetrate the hardest, saddest or most doubting heart; nor think that explaining the person and work of Jesus from the Bible is a waste of time. It is God's essential tool for bringing people to faith and salvation. So let us not shy away from using it to enable life-changing faith and peace to emerge in ourselves, our friends and colleagues.
Prayer: God of truth and peace. Thank You for the powerful effect of explaining Your Word to people who are troubled by anxiety and doubt. Forgive me when I have failed to use the most potent tool in the world which can change the eternal destiny of those I care for and work amongst. Please help me to honour Your Word more and more, by reading it, sharing it with others and explaining it to them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Doubt and anxiety are opposed to peace. Doubt is uncertainty about the present and anxiety has no confidence about the future. Both of these are human responses to uncertainty and insecurity. Peace resolves both, and comes with the confidence that all is well and will be well, when we trust the One who is unchanging and secure as a rock.
Even though the disciples agreed that Jesus was alive, they were not ready for Him suddenly appearing in the room with them. Even though He spoke peace over them they were still scared and needed more reassurance. But His invitation to examine His mutilated hands and feet, and eating solid food, created the kind of incredulity more associated with fantasy than reality. So what was it that enabled doubt to disappear? Jesus used the written Word of God to explain the amazing signs and wonders they had seen.
Many people suggest that if they could see Jesus they would believe in Him, and if they had physical evidence they would accept what He had to say. But that is not true. Although the disciples had all that, it was not enough to convince them. They needed the truth of God's Word to explain the miracle of God's grace. It is the same for our generation, which is wonderful ... we have no disadvantage in faith just because we were not there at the time, if God's Word is available to explain what it all meant. Never underestimate the ability of the Bible to penetrate the hardest, saddest or most doubting heart; nor think that explaining the person and work of Jesus from the Bible is a waste of time. It is God's essential tool for bringing people to faith and salvation. So let us not shy away from using it to enable life-changing faith and peace to emerge in ourselves, our friends and colleagues.
Prayer: God of truth and peace. Thank You for the powerful effect of explaining Your Word to people who are troubled by anxiety and doubt. Forgive me when I have failed to use the most potent tool in the world which can change the eternal destiny of those I care for and work amongst. Please help me to honour Your Word more and more, by reading it, sharing it with others and explaining it to them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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