“After the crucifixion, the disciples huddled behind a locked door. It’s understandable. They had seen their Jesus die. They had heard about how He had been wrapped and placed in a locked tomb. But our Emmanuel is not hindered by locked doors. He pursues us, even when we’re huddled in the grip of our circumstances.”- Summer Joy Gross
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”- John 20:19-20 (NIV)
Summer Joy Gross concludes Chapter 9 of The Emmanuel Promise as she notes that many Christian authors preceded us in the practice of the presence of God. For example, Brother Lawrence taught that practicing the presence of God potentially changed normal dishwashing into abiding with God.
So, Summer asks, how do we go about practicing a picture of our future with Christ in it? Her answer? We start small. Very small. We proceed one sensory moment of God at a time.
Above all, Summer exhorts, get creative. Ask God to reveal a sensory reminder you could take through your day. Because you slowly establish object constancy through using a sensory reminder of the presence of your Emmanuel.
In conclusion, Summer posits, the disciples certain felt overwhelmed and awed when Jesus walked through that wall. Most significantly, she adds:
“When Jesus walked through that wall, the disciples . . . no longer felt alone. The no longer felt powerless because the power that calmed the storms had arrived in the middle of their fear. Love incarnate had burst into their suffocating story. The Emmanuel was in the room. ‘Peace be with you’ was the answer to their every question.”
Today’s question: What locked doors in your life does Emmanuel see as no hindrance? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Uninterrupted symphony of praise”
