“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” Luke 24:28-31
There have been times when I’ve told people that church services in Haiti usually went on for at least a couple of hours and they would shake their heads in disbelief and exclaim that they could not sit through that; I enjoyed it as we worshipped in the heat of the morning. There have been a few people who say that if Heaven is just one long church service that lasts for weeks, they are not sure if that is where they want to go. I am thinking that we will all be smiling like these children worshipping in Gamaliel when we are with our Savior when we receive our Glory. All the activities and stuff we clung to here on this side of Heaven will be forgotten as we experience everlasting life with our Risen Savior. I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Stay with us’ that were written by Walter L. Pelz in 1926.
“Stay with us, till night has come; our praise to You this day he sung. Bless our bread, open our eyes; Jesus be our great surprise. Walk with us, our spirits sigh; hear when our weary spirits cry. Feel again our loss, our pain; Jesus take us by Your side. Walk with us, the road will bend; make all or weeping, wailing end. Wipe our tears, forgive our fears; Jesus lift the heavy cross. Talk with us, till we behold a joyful life You will unfold. Heal our eyes to see the prize; Jesus take us to the light. Stay with us, till day is done; no tears, no dark shall dim the sun. Cheer the heart, Your grace impart; Jesus bring eternal life.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.