Cortland Trinity Baptist Church

   We usually think of confusion as a bad thing and usually it is.  God is not the author of confusion.  This means that God does not bring any confusion that would cause us to misunderstand His truth or miss His purpose and direction.  However, there is a type of confusion that is born out of humility and a desire to know that can be very beneficial.  It can set us up to receive the divine leadership we desperately need.

   Consider the two men on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.  The text says, “they talked together of all these things which had happened” (vs. 14).  They were discussing the fact that three days earlier Jesus had been put to death.  They were sad because they had hoped He was the One who was going to redeem Israel.  They were confused.  They did not understand His death—finding it all quite depressing.  However, their confusion was coming from sincere hearts that really wanted to know and understand why these events had taken place.  What happened next is quite amazing.

   Verse 15 says, “So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.”  Notice the wording, they conversed and reasoned among themselves.  They were trying to figure out the “why” of what had happened three days earlier in Jerusalem.  As they were talking and reasoning together Jesus Himself drew near.  They did not recognize it was Jesus but it was!  He then did a most marvelous thing. “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (vs. 27).  Oh, how I would have loved to have been there for that Bible lesson!  Later, in their home their eyes were opened and they knew Him when He broke the bread to eat with them.  After He left them they described their experience with Jesus by saying, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (vs. 32) 

   I truly believe that when we come together as believers trying to figure out what God is up to with a humble confusion burning in our hearts that Jesus will draw near.  He sees our heart’s desire for truth.  He knows that our confusion is born out of a passion for His help.  And when He draws near He will open the Scriptures to us.  We will receive the understanding of His truth and His direction for our lives. 

   Lord, as we get together and converse and reason, trying to figure out what has happened in our lives recently and what You are doing...DRAW NEAR TO US!  Open the Scriptures to us.  Open our eyes to see You.  In the midst of our confusion give us the divine leadership we crave.

   Pastor Dan