Devotional Stories to Help us Walk with Jesus:

Parable 1

Good Morning, Jesus

Yesterday was a rough day. It was hot! We did a lot of walking and met a lot of people—mostly disagreeable people. I think most of us really didn’t see much purpose in what we were doing. Going here, and going there! Why? We ended the day perplexed and very exhausted.

For some reason, I woke up early this morning—don’t know if it was the pleasant aroma of wood burning—maybe it was breakfast cooking over the open fire. I looked around, but the other guys were still sleeping. Getting up and wiping the residue of last night’s sleep from my eyes, I saw a familiar figure silhouetted against the early morning light fixing breakfast. I drew near, “Good morning, Jesus! “

“Well, good morning, John. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, Rabbi,” answering with a bit of timidity in my voice, while still feeling the aches and uncertainties of yesterday’s ordeal.

I came closer. It was nice to be with Jesus—you know, just Jesus and me. Didn’t have to compete for his attention—the guys were still sleeping.

“John, I’m glad you got up earlier than the rest. I appreciate having this special time, just you and me. You know John, and you may already know this, but I want to tell you again how much I love you and how very special you are to me. I want to tell you what’s in store for you today—things you can’t even imagine. Yes, things that will challenge your understanding, but don’t worry, I am here with you. You’ll be okay.”

Thinking back to yesterday’s events, I thought the day was challenging enough. Seems to me that Jesus may have forgotten what we endured—how our bodies were still hurting and how our minds ache with so many thoughts that crashed landed into our lives. I was still trying to figure out Jesus as we engaged so many different and often difficult people; as we tried to understand Jesus as he walked with purpose through such a terrible day. But no, he hadn’t forgotten. For him those were yesterday’s experiences. As breakfast was cooking, I realized that today is a new day with Jesus. Today was a new lesson to be learned, and Jesus is going to be the teacher.

Offering me something to eat, we sat down together to enjoy what he had prepared. Then looking intently at me he said, “John, stay close. Learn from me, but more importantly, learn of me. Today, I want to show you my glory—I’m going to feed 5,000 people with just a few loaves of bread and some fish. I am going to raise my dear friend Lazarus from the dead—and so much more. Just stay alert so you can enjoy my glory and not be overwhelmed by the events of the day.

“One day, John, when you think your time on earth is over, when I place you on an island as my prisoner . . . that is just the beginning. I will show you the glories that will come at the end of time, and beyond.”

The others are beginning to stir. But, to think what I would have missed had I not gotten up early and drawn near to that familiar silhouette—had I not begun the day with, “Good morning, Jesus,” I would have started the day so much poorer, walking through another day without understanding his love and his purpose for me. Seems to me, now that I make a habit of saying, “Good morning, Jesus,” I can better handle the heat of the sun and the disagreeable people. I can better see his purpose for my journey. And, yes, I can be thankful for another exhausting and “aimless” day, knowing that He has everything under His control.

Gotta go. The others have arrived for breakfast.

Look for the next parable on August 14.