Open our Minds

In Luke 24 we read:

 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.

I’ve always found this passage to be interesting. Jesus was right there with these guys, told them to be at peace, showed them his hands and feet, and asked them to touch him.  And yes, many did not believe.  And it says they didn’t believe because of joy and amazement.

What?

Has the Lord ever shown up, performed a miracle, given you more than you even asked for, and yet because it’s so amazing you feel it must be untrue?

We are quite a mess, aren’t we?  We get down and discouraged when circumstances are less than desirable, and we feel God must have gone on vacation, so we start to doubt his love and care for us. Then later, when things work out, we look back and realize how he really did care of us and meet our needs, we still doubt because it must be too good to be true, and maybe this good fortune won’t last.

The last part of this passage says that Jesus opened their minds so that they could understand the scriptures.

We must pray for Jesus to open our minds to understand his ways.  They aren’t like our ways, and his thoughts are not like our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9).

If we could ever realize this truth, that even in dark times he is there, and when things are great he is there, we could live in peace.

Lord, we pray for our minds to be open to the reality of your character and goodness in our lives, and that we would respond in faith when you show up where we are.