Last Saturday, my devotional in The Upper Room was based on Luke 24:13-35, On the Road to Emmaus. I’ve always especially loved this passage, particularly the pathos of these words…but we had hoped…
I was just finishing my quiet time when our almost nine-year-old granddaughter, Sarah, woke up and came into the family room all sleepy-eyed. We chatted for a few minutes, and without knowing quite how, I found myself telling her about the passage of Scripture I had just read in Luke.
When I told her the two travelers on the road to Emmaus didn’t recognize Jesus and how sad the they were that Jesus had died because they had hoped that He was the One who was going to redeem Israel, Sarah said, “But Jesus rose again after He died!”
“But they didn’t know that He had risen.” I read and told Sarah the things the two travelers were saying to Jesus about Jesus of Nazareth when He was right there with them all the time! She giggled at the very thought!
I told Sarah the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus until He broke bread with them, and then He disappeared. I went on to say how He appeared to them again, and she giggled because they thought He was a ghost until He showed them scars on His hands and feet and ate a piece of fish!
“But Thomas, one of the followers of Jesus, wasn’t with them when Jesus appeared to them, and when the other disciples told him they had seen the Lord, he responded, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nail were, and put my hand in his said, I will not believe it.‘
“A week later when Thomas was with the disciples. Jesus appeared to them again. He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
“Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!‘
“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ (John 20:29).
I looked into Sarah’s eyes and told her, “That’s us, Sarah! We haven’t seen Jesus or the scars in His hands and feet, but we believe that He died and rose again. We believe that He is alive!”
Sarah’s blue eyes sparkled. I thanked God again for the precious moments I’ve had with all of our grandchildren and now with Sarah to talk to them about Jesus and other Bible characters. When we were staying in “the barnhouse” during the month of August, spending time with our grandchildren during our missionary vacations while we were in Japan, I told them an impromptu story about Jonah. Our oldest granddaughter, Joy, said, “Grandma, I love it when you tell us Bible stories!”
We had Connor a lot before and after school after we came home from Japan and bought a house in Greenville. The other day he said, “You read me a devotional every morning whether I wanted to or not, Grandma!” I replied, “You better believe it!”
I also remember our son-in-law telling me some years ago, “I don’t want to downplay the importance of going to church, but my godly grandparents were, hands down, the biggest spiritual influence in my life, and I didn’t spend nearly as much time with them as Connor and Sarah spend with you.”
I am so very thankful for the opportunities God has given us to be a godly influence over our children and grandchildren! We are so blessed!
Father, Help us take advantage of every opportunity you give us to share the Gospel and our walk with Jesus with our children and our grandchildren! Amen.
