“Don’t Leave Us”

We’ve all heard the phrase “familiarity breeds contempt”… “ I’ve heard that so many times that I zone out…. I already know what it contains.” There’s certainly a danger in that attitude. This can even occur with the scriptures… oh yes, John 3:16, I know what that says. 

Well, while the scripture hasn’t changed since the last time I heard it, I have. I’m different today than I was yesterday, or last week, or last year, or 25 years ago. In addition, the Holy Spirit may want to emphasize a new point because I’m now ready to “hear it”. The scriptures are always new and I need to approach them with a new excitement and anticipation every time I read them. However, this can be easier said than done.

Today I heard the famous passage from Luke 24, “the Road to Emmaus”. It’s one of my favorite passage, filled with insights and lessons. Today verse 29 struck me. It reads,  “So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” (Luke 24:28-29) Cleopas urges, maybe pleads with the stranger to “stay with us… for it is evening and the day is far spent”. 

I sense his longing for Jesus to “stay …. don’t leave,  please don’t leave ….. the day is far spent.” At times, I can feel the same way…”the day is far spent… don’t leave us”. Much of life has passed; we are getting closer to the end. Lord, don’t leave us alone… stay with us. We need you close to us….. the world seems to be crumbling around us. And of course the Lord doesn’t leave but reveals himself in the “opening of the scriptures and the breaking of the bread”. They later said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 23: 32)

It’s Easter and it’s a good thing to ask the Lord to stay with us, to not leave. Lord, don’t leave us. And he never will. He has sent the Holy Spirit, the comforter, to remain with us. So, be of good cheer. If you are hurting at the moment or on cloud nine, ask the Lord to stay close to you, and he will. And that is really good news.