When was the last time you urged Jesus to come and to stay with you?
Urge. Parabiazomai in the transliterated Greek meaning, “to employ force contrary to nature, right; to compel by employing force; to constrain one by treaties.”[i]
It’s a strong word carrying with it, in this case, a strong invitation directed toward Jesus. Not to perform miracles. Not to soothe their ache with comforting words of untruth. Not to diminish the happenings of the past weekend, but rather, simply…
to stay.
Stay. Meno in the transliterated Greek meaning, “to remain, abide; to continue to be present; to be held—kept continually.”[ii]
What they asked of Jesus is not unlike what we ask of him in our times of deepest sorrow and confusion. They urged him to participate in their suffering through the gift of his presence. To share more of his heart with them over a common meal. To break bread and to receive the words of life from this one who spoke so eloquently about the One on whom they had hung their messianic hopes.
Everything that had transpired along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus was ample fuel to warrant their desire for a further taste. And therein lies a truth for each one of us this day as we continue to set our table for communion with our Lord.
When Jesus Christ walks among us on our road to Emmaus and reveals the truth of who he is, a fire is fueled. Either a fire toward repentance or a fire toward rejection. If toward repentance, then our invitation for his lingering presence urges the same as it did for those disciples some 2000 years ago. If toward rejection, then our urges voice otherwise—in a safer, more sheltered direction that refuses the heat of the flames. But either way, when Jesus reveals…a fire burns, and a choice must be made.
Invitation or rejection.
The disciples chose well. They embraced the flames of this burning Truth that seared into their deep and dark with the penetrating light of Calvary’s victory. They didn’t scoff at the stranger’s words; instead they urged him toward further clarification in the matter. They didn’t dismiss him from their walk of grief; instead, they asked him to stay and to minister to their bleeding hearts and wounded confusion.
They didn’t come home empty-handed and empty-hearted. They came home with Jesus. Why?
Because our Savior is a kind a gracious Father whose agenda will never refuse an urgent invitation for his presence to be in our midst.
And so I ask you again, when was the last time you urged your Jesus to stay with you?
True and deep communion with Jesus…
Begins with an intentional walk toward the table (part one).
Continues with the worthy boast of his name (part two).
Deepens as the Word of God is revealed (part three).
Strengthens as an invitation for his presence is strongly urged (part four).
I don’t know where you are in your journey with Jesus this day, but as for me, I’m urging him for a deeper work. For more fire and more truth. Not because I desire the suffering heat, but rather because I know that God has ordained my refining process and to stop short of the flames is to stop short of my perfection.
I cannot always reason this walk between Jerusalem and Emmaus. Between spiritual blindness and sacred visioning. Between doubt and an absolute faith. Between rumors of his death and the reality of his resurrection. The struggle doesn’t make sense, especially since I’ve walked in God’s light for so long and tasted his truth at the deepest level of my being.
Still and yet, it is my struggle. But rather than walk away from God and hide in my confusion, I walk in obedience and with deliberate intention toward Him. With a worthy boast upon my lips and a worthy word within my heart because I know that my Father is faithful to come and to stay with me when my urging voices in his direction.
I’m urging Him today because he is my necessary and my very much needed. I long to sit by the fire and to break bread with him. Thus I pray,
Stay with me, Lord, at the table of my unbelief today. Linger long and with the words of truth that will reclaim my vision for all things eternal. Forgive me my doubts and replace them with the sure seeds of trust that harvest faithful and with the promise of your resurrection within. Let not my complacency be my satisfaction. Instead, stir my heart toward a greater conclusion in the matter…one that includes your magnificent imaginings for my life. Give me grace for the moment and hope for the ‘morrow. You are the sufficiency who keeps me in them both. Amen.
[i] http://studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=Luke+24%3A28-29§ion=0&translation=nsn&oq=&sr=1
[ii] http://studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=Luke+24%3A28-29§ion=0&translation=nsn&oq=&sr=1
Copyright © September 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved.
I watched Him arrive and stay at strong urging this weekend. And I saw Him go home with some women for the first time.
Beautiful indeed.
I wish that I could report here that I ask Jesus each and every morning to renew our relationship. However, when I wake up I am often crabby, emotional and selfish. Instead, I find that if I intentionally set time aside in my calendar where I am focused only on Him, I can stay strong. I know that Jesus is continually renewing my faith each and every moment and I pray that I can see those moments as they appear.
“…when was the last time you urged your Jesus to stay with you?”
Elaine, I start each day with the Lord. I read His Word, I pray, I journal, but, I confess to being under a time restraint and I don’t linger. After 45 minutes I have to be waking my son and jumping into the day. Instead it is He who is extending a longer invitation and I am rushing away. He is urging me to come and stay with Him. Oh, I’ve kept Him waiting so long. My heart is breaking. This post has touched me deeply.
As always it has been a worthy visit. The picture included is inviting me to enter His presence – He’s there waiting.
Love ya,
Joy
Thank you again for this. I have been urging Jesus to stay with me and reading this makes gives me a calmness and certainty I needed. I look forward to all of your posts!
sometimes a picture speaks louder than words. Before even reading your post, which was great, the picture of the door and fire almost made me cry. I want to sit and break bread with Jesus everyday and invite Him in. He is never too busy! Amen!
God Bless,
Nicole
Elaine, this is powerful and very conviction. I yearn for Jesus to come close to me and need to be more inviting- begging him to stay and commune just the two of us. This creates more of an urgency in me. Thanks you so much for this post Elaine. You are truly annointed in your writing. Thanks for your obedience to the calling on your life.
Love, Hugs and Prayers,
Kennisha
“Stay with me.” I can hear Jesus urging us with the very same words…
Beautiful post, Elaine.
UmmmmMmmmm! I’m just soaking your words up tonight! So needed to hear this, my friend. I’m insistin’ that My Jesus spend the night! Your words glorify…
You are right about my hubby! I tend to spoil him on his birthday! I tend to spoil everybody on their birthday! I grew up not celebrating…Now I can’t stop!
Love to you, my friend!
I am urging Him today.
Thank you friend.
This gave me a new perspective on John 15 about abiding. Thanks for the words and the seeds you’ve planted with them.
“I walk in obedience and with deliberate intention toward Him.”
Oh that that were every hearts’ longing: obedience and intentionality where the Lord is concerned.
My life is rich when He is welcomed and near. It lacks luster when, often unintentionally, He is religated to some obscure place.
Great collection, my friend.
Kathleen
This part right here described something I have always felt but have not been able to put into words:
“Either a fire toward repentance or a fire toward rejection. If toward repentance, then our invitation for his lingering presence urges the same as it did for those disciples some 2000 years ago. If toward rejection, then our urges voice otherwise—in a safer, more sheltered direction that refuses the heat of the flames.”
I am so comfort-driven, and I do not like the heat. But you’re right, it is rejection, and not the passive kind. Deep and sinking in to my already watered soul, Elaine. Thank you so much!
To commune with the Lord – the thought leaves me peaceful, refreshed and longing for more. In the stillness and quiet HE is here! Blessings today!
Elaine, I am loving this journey with you. I pray to urgently and fervently–and continually–invite Him into my midst.
This particularly resonated with me: “But rather than walk away from God and hide in my confusion, I walk in obedience and with deliberate intention toward Him.”
My walk with Him is not always easy or understandable, but it is always deliberate and purposeful.
Oh, how I long for more of that fire–and for the opportunity to have Him stay so I can enjoy Him.
Just beautiful, Elaine. I have truly been blessed by this series.
I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to reach out and touch His sleeve and ask Him to stay.
Such intimacy is amazing.
I long for such intimacy….I know He does too.
As the years have gone by the closeness has grown…or my awareness of Him has grown.I will always long for a deeper knowledge of Him…for to know Him is to love Him. Cliche yes, but oh so true.
They knew Him and longed to remain with Him. That is what I want to grow in my heart daily.
Loved the picture.
Can you even imagine what it would have been like to pass a dish to Him? I wonder if I would have been able to concentrate enough to get the dish into His hands. 🙂
When I imagine what it will be like to look into His eyes for the first time….GOODNESS!
Thank you for sharing these insights and for the Greek word for abide. I pray that I will offer Him the hospitality that will invite him to stay for more than a cursory visit, but to truly “menos.”
wifeforthejourney:
What a tug-of-war goes on in my own heart, faith to implore Jesus to “stay” with me and the will to stay with Him. The human heart is indeed “prone to wander,” but thanks be to God that His grace is constant even when my commitment falters.
I’ll be spending time this morning pursuing Jesus instead of wandering off on my own! Thanks for your gift of encouragement and helping me keep my priorities straight.
Love,
Billy
This whole series has just been so beautiful. As someone else pointed out, you are truly anointed, and I thank God that you are faithful in using your gift.
I do my Bible study in an electronic Bible on my computer. One of the things I love about that is the unlimited notetaking space. I just pasted all four parts of this series into the notes for the corresponding Scriptures, so I can see them anytime I read this passage.
Thank you again
Oh Elaine, these wordsso speak my heart! Today I am going to a conference for parish nurses. The morning topic is “Nothing Is As It Seems: Gratitude with a Trusting Attitude” and then the rest of the day is spent in silence. The retreat center sets in the country. Up a ling hill is a cross so I prayerfully journey there and set under the cross and read scripture. There is a labryth whch I usually walk and pray at the end. I am so excited for today because I will have half of a day devoted to seeking Him and His presence. I plan to retake this series of devotionals. Thank you for being so willing to write for our Lord, for being so skillful. What a talent you have sister and so so many are being blessed!
In His Graces~Pamela
I share and echo your prayer tonight…I need more of the “lingering long” with the Lord you speak of. I do start my day with Him, yet so often, my devotional time is hurried.
If you wouldn’t mind, I’d love to print that photo from your post and put it on my fridge as a daily reminder to “urge Him in to linger.”
Blessings,
Tracy