PRAYER: urging...and opening...
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Since our last post, have you been inviting Jesus into YOUR boat...whatever that may be right now? Immediately after realizing that Jesus wanted to be invited into MY boat (my everything), two other familiar Scripture passages came to mind.
I was thankful for this, because I had had the fleeting fear that I might have been too metaphorical with the "boat story." But the Holy Spirit confirmed His rhema with these passages:
The first was the story of the two grieving disciples on the road to Emmaus on Resurrection Day. They were discussing the events of the previous days, when a Stranger began walking with them. This Stranger began explaining from the Scriptures why the Christ had to "suffer these things and enter into His glory." Let's pick up the story right there...
… And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:25- 30
There it was again! He acted as if He were going on UNTIL they urged Him to stay. Does that amaze you as it does me?
Then this second passage came to mind: the letter to the lukewarm church at Laodicea. This church was so self-sufficient! They thought they were "all it" and had everything they needed. But Jesus told them basically, "You don't know how needy and bankrupt you really are!"
Let's read:
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:14-22
There it is again..."I'm standing here knocking on your life...and I won't come in UNLESS (if) you open the door (a.k.a. boat). If you open to me, invite me in, I will come in. Then we can have intimate fellowship together!"
I know...we usually use this as a salvation verse. But it isn't primarily that, because it's to the CHURCH at Laodicea...that means believers too!
So then this simple truth dawned upon me:
No matter how old you are in the Lord, Jesus wants to be wanted by YOU!
Now that really blows my mind! Does it yours? The Sovereign God, our Lord Christ, wants to be wanted!
Next time, I'll tell you what happened when I began sharing this story. But in the meantime,...
Invite Him into YOUR boat, dear brothers and sisters! Urge Him to stay! Open the door!
Why? Because the Lord wants us to experience His presence in our life situations: our emotional upheavals, our wounds, disappointments, the lies we’ve believed, our joy & sorrows…everything! Then we can know that He is truly adequate for everything we may face in this life.
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For Bible students:
Here are some questions* to explore:
Look at each of the three passages: the Boat story (Matthew 14:22-33); the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-30); and the letter to the church at Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22). [Try to answer the questions right from the texts of Scripture]
1. Who was responsible for the circumstances in each Scripture passage?
2. What/Who blinded the believers to the Lord’s presence &/or identity in each passage?
3. What is the purpose or reason (Why?) for the Lord’s desire to enter into each situation with His people? [You might want to use the composite text from part 1 or Mark 6:51 for the boat story]
Bonus thought question: Are there some things the Lord will NOT do unless asked?
Take a look at these scriptures: James 4:2 Matthew 7:7-11 Deut 29:29 Is 55:8
What other Scriptures come to mind as you meditate on this question?
*Thoughts and "answers" in a future post :)
