From Misery to Mission

04/1/22 – 04/20/22

Exchanging Our Misery for His Mission

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/20/22

Read Luke 24:30-35. When they got to their destination in the town of Emmaus, the two disciples invited their new friend to come inside and share a meal 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 24:30-31).

Did you catch that? When they invited Jesus in, everything changed. The same is true today. When you invite the resurrected Jesus into your life as your only Savior and Lord, He does not merely come in and take a seat; He takes over. When He came to this house, He was not a guest; He was the host. Notice that it was Jesus who took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it. That’s the job of the host of the home. Likewise, when He comes into your life, He does not come as a guest. He comes as your Savior and Lord. He transforms you. He brings His joy into your joyless circumstances. He brings His victory to your defeated life. He brings His power to the places you feel powerless. He will deliver you from whatever is holding you back from living in the light of His victorious resurrection and yours to come.

Once these two disciples recognized the resurrected Jesus, they moved from fear to courage, from pain to joy, from despair to hope. Their misery was transformed into mission. They got up, even though it was nighttime, and headed all the way back to Jerusalem. Though it was a very dangerous road, they couldn’t be stopped. They had an important mission. They had Good News to deliver. They knew they must tell others what had happened. They had seen the risen Lord with their own eyes. They had walked with Him and talked with Him, and He had ministered to their hearts.

When you discover true hope in the plans and promises of God, you will be moved from a place of sorrow to a place of service. Pray that your life, from now until He calls you home, will be a life of purpose and joy—no matter what challenges may come.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son and the tremendous calling to go and proclaim His salvation for the furthering of Your Kingdom. Thank You for transforming me and giving me confidence and courage with Your lovingkindness. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together” (Luke 24:33).