The Proof’s Not in the Pudding but the Broiled Fish
Photographer Ted Cavanaugh, Shoot date 03/22/2018, Publish Date 06/01/2018, Embargo Expiration Date 01/01/2019
A good first day back as we get back to a full 5 days in school for all kids. Father, I would ask for patience for all adults involved and cooperation from all our kiddos. Amen.
Luke 24:35-43 (<<click here to read the passage)
I recently read an informative online article from NPR (National Public Radio).
We’ve heard the colloquialism “The proof is in the pudding.” But did you know that that version of it is actually a new twist on a very old proverb? The original version is the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And what it meant was that you had to try out food in order to know whether it was good. … the word pudding itself has changed. In Britain, dating back centuries, pudding meant more than a sweet dessert. Back then, pudding referred to a kind of sausage, filling the intestines of some animal with minced meat and other things – something you probably want to try out carefully since that kind of food could be rather treacherous.
Upon their return from Emmaus the two followers of Jesus were sharing of their interaction with the risen Christ when without warning, Jesus stood amongst them! Though He proclaimed, “Peace be with you,” it says the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
The passage goes on to say,
“Why are you frightened?” [Jesus] asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.
Their emotions were all over the place. Yes, He had shared about all these things but just because they had heard what He said doesn’t mean they had understood it. Even standing in His presence at that moment, it still wasn’t sinking in. But the proof of the pudding – Jesus being who He said He was and doing what He did – is in the eating. In other words, seeing Him, touching Him, watching Him eat a bite of broiled fish was the proof they needed. It gave them something solid and tangible to get ahold of. The meaning of the colloquialism meant that they had to try to do that to know that what seemed too good to be true, was true!
And Jesus, glorious Jesus, was patient as always. He understood the humanity of their anxiety. It was a shock, but He helped them out in the transition, helping them to take it all in…one bite at a time.
Lord Jesus, hindsight is most definitely of great benefit. We know who You are, but there are still times when we just aren’t sure. We question the reality of where we find ourselves and how You fit into that reality. We would ask that You enable us to believe…even if we have to do it in bite-size pieces. Amen.
Jan 25th, 2021, Mon, 6:11 pm
Shelter in the Barren Branches
Father, true contentment is found only in You. Thank You for that assurance. All praise to You, Holy Father!
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We have a beautiful burning bush on the leeward side of our home. It happens to sit right outside our bedroom window. I mention where it is located in that, especially this time of year, small birds congregate in the shelter of its barren branches. It will get snow-covered but for the most part, it is shielded from the bitter winter winds.
I took the above picture this past Christmas day (not too, too bad, even with the screen) but I thought of it again yesterday seeing birds once more in its branches. Most of the time there are yellow and purple finches, juncos, and pretty regularly we will see cardinals hunkered down. But it got me to thinking…when the world is howling all around us, where do we go?
Interestingly enough, I go to the One who once called out from another burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6). Yes, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
Though Moses would come to know Him intimately in the last 80 years of his life (40 had already passed), at this time he did not know who spoke to him. So, after telling him to keep his distance, for Moses stood on holy ground, God said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”
Their God was Moses’ God and Moses’ God is my God. The God who created all of creation…all that we know and all we do not know. That God knows me and most wonderfully of all, He loves me! 1 John 4:9-10 affirms to us this great truth!
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. NLT
So, as I looked out my window to see the birds – common everyday birds – provided shelter by their loving Creator, it reminded me of His love for me – common everyday me – and you – as well!
Jan 24th, 2021, Sun, 7:13 pm
No Doubt
A beautiful day with sunshine all around, Father – a much-needed gift. Central Ohio in winter does not get many of those, so when we get them, I will surely give credit where credit is due!
Luke 24:13-34 (<<click here to read the passage)
At some time, we’ve all probably used the phrase “no doubt”.
Macmillandictionary.com defines it as follows:
1) used for emphasizing that something seems certain or very likely
No doubt she’ll tell me everything when she’s ready.
2) used for showing that you accept something is probably true, but this does not change your opinion
No doubt she’s very nice, but I just don’t like her.
I find it interesting that the second definition contains both certainty and doubt – how is that even possible? But we do it all the time! Truth can be staring us right in the face, yet many times we will have nothing of it! “I believe what I believe, and no one is going to change my mind!”
Everything the two Emmaus bound followers of Jesus shared with the risen Lord Jesus Himself was full of that conflicting mindset set, no doubt! There was an abundance of certainty – He was a prophet, powerful miracles, a mighty teacher.
But there was ample doubt, as well. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. (emphasis mine) Even when the women who went to the tomb, flat out were told that Jesus had risen – there was doubt. When they passed the info along to those in hiding, it was labeled as amazing, yet some ran to the tomb to find out for themselves and all they really determined was, “Yep, his body was gone…”
Jesus’ words to them (though they were kept from recognizing Who it was that spoke to them) are a clear message to us, too.
“O foolish men, and slow of heart to trust and believe in everything that the prophets have spoken!” v25 AMP
We know with certainty who Jesus is but living it out is something else altogether.
We know with certainty that Jesus himself said he was coming back but living our lives in such a way that we truly believe He could return at any moment is something else altogether.
We are most assuredly fools…but just as Jesus didn’t give up on the disheartened travelers, He doesn’t give up on us either. His patience goes farther than we can begin to comprehend much less emulate. That’s why it’s often referred to as longsuffering. Love fills it all from the beginning and it never ends.
Lord Jesus, help us to cast aside our personal doubt and embrace the certainty of it all. Amen.
Jan 21st, 2021, Thurs, 1:07 pm
Too Good to Be True?
As I sit here to begin our time together, Father, I am once again listening to Christmas music! I know it is almost a month past, but everything was so out of the norm this year, that its warmth and nostalgia accompany the comfort You afford quite well!
Luke 24:1-12 (<<click here to read the passage)
Some things in life take a while to come about. Karen and I tied the knot in June of 1986 whereupon she moved out to St. Louis where I was serving as a Minister of Music. I was there one more year. We then moved to Marietta, Ohio, where I served a church for one year total. After that, we moved to Columbus, Ohio where I began working at a Christian bookstore.
So, we had two addresses in St. Louis, country-raised Karen was really uncomfortable with people living on top of her. (We started off in an old three-story apartment complex.) We then had one in Marietta and one in Columbus. All along we had been scrimping and saving to be able to afford a home of our own. So, in the late summer of 1989, we were finally able to move into our fifth address in five years of marriage! It was a long time coming and it seemed too good to be true, but we became homeowners and still live in the same house, 30+ years later!
Peter had been a part of Jesus’ life for over three years. They had traveled extensively. He had listened and seen so many things. He had come to love Jesus as many of Jesus’ followers had but…Peter wasn’t just any follower.
Now maybe on occasion, Peter felt he was unique…just like everybody else – but Jesus knew who Peter was. And in spite of who Peter was, Jesus loved him, too. He knew not only the Peter that everybody else saw and knew but He also knew the Peter deep down inside that maybe even Peter struggled to understand. And most important of all, Jesus knew who Peter could be.
Up to this point in Peter’s story, there had been quite a few more downs than there had been ups. He had been the first to vocalize who Jesus was, the promised Messiah. But oft than not he was quite adept at inserting his foot into his mouth.
But at this moment in Peter’s life, everything seemed to have fallen through his hands. Jesus was gone. He and the other disciples were in hiding with fears that they would be next. Then seemingly out of nowhere Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women came and told the apostles of their experience with the two men…clothed in dazzling robes.
But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. It was just too good to be true…wasn’t it?
However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
I may have seemed too good to be true, but true it was and within a few hours they would believe, as well!
Lord Jesus, doubt is all about us and though it may seem too good to be true, You are alive! May we cast aside that doubt sooner rather than later.
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.
Let the wicked leave (behind) his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion (mercy) on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 AMP
Jan 20th, 2021, Wed, 4:31 pm
It’s OK to Lament
Sorrowing Old Man (At Eternity’s Gate) by Vincent van Gogh
Father, I humbly lay prostrate before You. You, and You alone, are God of all and God over all, myself included. Even if humanity will not admit it, that is the way it has been, the way it is, and the way it will always be. May we allow ourselves to acquiesce – to concede – to Your sovereignty over all of creation. May we allow You to set us straight when we are off-kilter. We know You love us, no matter where we find ourselves, or where we have allowed ourselves to be. Envelope us in Your arms that we may have no doubt that Your love knows no bounds. Direct our steps each day, from beginning to end, for each of them gives us the opportunity to start afresh.
Lamentations 3:22-24 is a passage of great encouragement.
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
…..His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
…..is mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
…..therefore, I will hope in him!” NLT
In this crazy world, I would encourage you to cling to God. He can bring you security like no other can. We know not what the morrow may bring, but we know He will be there, regardless. Our hope should rest in Him alone…but no this it’s OK to lament. He’s a big God, He can handle it.
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Some time back I came across BibleProject (<<click this link for their website), a nonprofit ed-tech organization and animation studio that produces 100% free Bible videos, podcasts, blogs, classes, and educational Bible resources to help make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere.
I would encourage you to watch this short video on the Book of Lamentations they have put together.
Jan 19th, 2021, Tues, 6:55 pm