Devotion 5.13.26

Luke 24

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension

50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Luke notes Christ's final lesson to his disciples before he ascends. Christ's ministry and mission on earth were very detailed and carefully planned in advance, and he clearly has plans for the disciples after he ascends.

I've never liked a coach who "over-coaches." I heard that phrase from a guy who I traveled with to a recruiting fair in College Station. His brother and he had played basketball together in college "back in the day," and his brother coached women's basketball at Louisiana Tech at the time of our travels. He gave words to what I had observed and it stuck.

One coach I knew well in the high school ranks might as well have been in uniform and playing alongside the kids. He was that involved in game time decisions, He is how the topic came up, and Terry (the man I was with recruiting teaching candidates) was far ahead of me in that regard. "You coach so your players can execute at game time. You don't sit on the sideline, but you do watch your game plan unfold. You make adjustments. You don't 'over-coach.'"

In business, we call those kinds of leaders "micro-managers." They can frustrate the employees (team) and make people second guess themselves at the simplest points along a continuum of decisions he or she has to make during the day.

Jesus is involved in our faith lives. He is with the disciples, giving final instruction before he leaves. He gives us his Word to learn and from which to live life daily. He's available at all hours of the day on a prayer hotline (literally). He implores us and commands us to think of him and access him when needed, but he lets us make decisions daily, for better or worse. 

I noted in today's passage Luke includes the phrase "he opened their minds to understand the scripture." This takes us to several other scripture passages,* but it is important to note that to the believer, Christ and his Spirit make scripture something for us to understand and apply in our lives daily. 

Pray with me: Alleluia Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Open the eyes of my heart to read, hear, learn and inwardly digest your Word and apply the Word to my life. Amen.

*Matthew 13 - Christ explains the use of parables and cites Isaiah 6 in his explanation. It has application in today's passage.

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.