Luke 24 verse 31: ‘Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him…’
Luke 24 verse 32: “‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?'”
Luke 24 verse 45: ‘Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures’

Clearly, our eyes have to be opened, so that we are able to recognise Jesus; the scriptures have to be ‘opened’, so that we understand. We know, too, that our ears have to be opened, to really hear what those scriptures are saying; and our hearts have to be opened, to respond to the scriptures, to the truth, and to God, with love. Being opened up to God, and having God’s truth opened up to us, is critical: this is a reminder of how dependent we are on God, and on the Spirit, for our spiritual growth. In this period of the resurrection, let us be encouraged to seek to understand the truth that God wants to reveal. We should pray for understanding, for the indwelling Spirit’s revealing of truth,
so that we truly benefit from our encounters with God, through the scriptures, and in other ways.

We should employ all our senses, and all our faculties, to recognize God in everything and everyone around us, and to respond appropriately.
This is a beautiful season, when we have opportunities to be opened up to all that is good in life, in people, and in the world around us. We could pray, each day, “Lord, help me to be alive to you, alive to your love, alive to everything that is true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, worthy of praise” (Philippians 4 verse 8). This is to be living the resurrection life.

With love, in Christ

Reverend Nigel Andrews

18 April 2021